186 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCO VE11Y. 



with the ordinary exertion of chemical affinity, since it can produce effects 

 miles away from the particles on which they depend, and which are effectual 

 only by forces acting at insensible distances, still proves the same thing, the 

 conservation of force. Preparations can be made for a chemical action in 

 the simple voltaic circuit, but until the circuit be complete that action does 

 not occur ; yet in completing we can so arrange the circuit, that a distant 

 chemical action, the perfect equivalent of the dominant chemical action, 

 shall be produced ; and this result, whilst it establishes the electro-chemical 

 equivalent of power, establishes the principle of the conservation of force 

 also, and at the same time suggests many collateral inquiries which have yet 

 to be made and answered, before all that concerns the conservation in this 

 case can be understood. 



This and other instances of chemical action at a distance carry our inquir- 

 ing thoughts on from the facts to the physical mode of the exertion of force ; 

 for the qualities which seem located and fixed to certain particles of matter 

 appear at a distance in connection with particles altogether different. They 

 also lead our thoughts to the conversion of one form of power into another ; 

 as, for instance, in the heat Avhich the elements of a voltaic pile may cither 

 show at the place where they act by their combustion or combination 

 together, or in the distance, where the electric spark may be rendered mani- 

 fest ; or in the wire of fluids of the different parts of the circuit. 



When we occupy ourselves with the dual forms of power, electricity, and 

 magnetism, we find gi-eat latitude of assumption, and necessarily so, for the 

 powers become more and more complicated in their conditions. But still 

 there is no apparent desire to let loose the force of the principle of conserva- 

 tion, even in those cases where the appearance and disappearance of force 

 may seem most evident and striking. Electricity appears when there is 

 consumption of no other force than that required for friction ; we do not 

 know how, but we search to know, not being willing to admit that the elec- 

 tric force can arise out of nothing. The two electricities are developed in 

 equal proportions ; and having appeared, we may dispose variously of the 

 influence of one upon successive portions of the other, causing many 

 changes in relation, yet never able to make the sum of the force of one kind 

 in the least degree exceed or come short of the sum of the other. In that 

 necessity of equality, we see another direct proof of the conservation of force, 

 in the midst of a thousand changes that require to be developed in their 

 principles before we can consider this part of science as even moderately 

 known to us. 



One assumption with regard to electricity is, that there is an electric fluid 

 rendered evident by excitement in plus and minus proportions. Another 

 assumption is, that there arc two fluids of electricity, each particle of each 

 repelling all particles like itself, and attracting all particles of the other kind 

 always, and with a force proportionate to the inverse square of the distance, 

 being so far analogous to the definition of gravity. This hypothesis is an- 

 tagonistic to the law of the conservation of force, and open to all the objec- 

 tions that have been, or may be, made against the ordinary definition of grav- 

 ity. Another assumption is, that each particle of the two electricities has a 



