ANALYSIS OF THE GALVANIC FILE. 245 



, C zinc side applied to the condenser • • • • pos. 0*10 

 «t P lle | pewter s ide neg. 0-10 



- j •, C V ewilT s, d e applied to the condenser • • pos, 0*20 

 J ° pUe I silver side to#. 0-25 



This experiment tirst affords a new proof, that negative These qualities 

 ... ... , , . not inherent in 



and positive are no qualities attached to certain metals, since certain metals. 



here pewter is negative iti its connexion with zinc, and posi- 

 tive when connected with silver. It is only an accidental 

 circumstance, that there is as yet no known substance with 

 which zinc becomes negative, and none with which silver 

 (or copper) becomes positive; and they have in themselves 

 no tendency to either of these states, acquiring them, and 

 that inversely, by particular circumstances, as will be seen 

 hereafter. 



With respect to my present purpose, this experiment hav- 

 ing shown me in pewter a metal proper for the tri;..s con- 

 cerning the pasting of the papers, I made the following ex- 

 periments. 



Exp, 25. With 3 piles, each of 20 groups zinc and Exp. 25 

 pewter. 



1. The paper pasted on zinc almost no effect. 



2 ...» loose between the groups 0*1 



3 pasted on pewter • • • • • • 0*5 



Exp, 26. With 3 piles, each of 20 groups pewter and 

 silver, 



1. The paper pasted on pewter 0-05 



2 loose between the groups • • • • • 0*2 



3 pasted on silver ...... 0*4 



Though there is not so much increase of effect in the last, shows, that the 



as in the two preceding experiments, it shows still the same conducting 



, . i , • i o substance 



general circumstance, that there is some advantage, tor in- should befixed 



creasing the transmission of the individual effects of each to the negative 

 group of metal to the extremities of the pile, in fixing the 

 nonmetallic conducting substance, on the outside of each 

 group, upon the metal which becomes negative in its con- 

 nexion with the other; a circumstance which led me soon to 

 farther steps : for these experiments presented me first the Hintofaspon- 



prospect of a spontaneous, as well as lasting electric machine, taneouselectrit 

 * * ° , machine. 



the 



