140 On certain Pfumomena of Electrical Discharge. 



charged up to its discharging point, it contains ten of positive 

 electricity ; then these ten will pass on into the large jar as a 

 discharge spark, and none will remain within the unit-jar. Now 

 the conductor of the machine, the outside of the unit-jar, and 

 the ball and wire of the large jar, will all appear positive to a 

 carrier ball : but when the machine is turned, although a rise in 

 positive condition will gradually take place on all the surfaces, 

 still the mutual relation of n and w' (that is, the exploding balls) 

 to each other, will be the same as before, and the mutual rela- 

 tion of the inner and outer coating of the unit-jar will be to 

 each other absolutely as before, for no external relation can alter 

 their mutual relation, though it may affect the outer coatings, 

 both of the large jar and the unit-jar. Whenever a spark does 

 pass from n to n', the electricity passing must be equal; because 

 the inductive relations of the coatings to each other through the 

 glass, and the like relations of the balls n, ri to each other, 

 remain absolutely the same. This is, as I think, a rigid conse- 

 quence of the principles of inductive action." This quotation, 

 independent of the great authority from which it is drawn, may 

 perhaps help Dr. Riess to a better appreciation of the question, 

 and serve in some degree to correct his notion, that my results, 

 " so far as he is aware," are equally unintelligible in England 

 as they are to himself " and others " in Germany. 



I am unwilling to extend my observations further on this 

 present occasion, not having any predilection for a controversy 

 which seems to border on so much painful matter of difference. 

 I had, certainly, when I wrote the paper which appeared in your 

 May Number, not the least intention of offering to Dr. Riess 

 any personal affront. 1 was perhaps somewhat hasty in employ- 

 ing the terms " systematic disparagement," which I used 

 merely to represent a series of depreciating criticisms from time 

 to time on my several experimental researches, laying in the path 

 of Dr. Riess's subsequent inquiries, and which certainly appeared 

 systematically connected with each other. I fully acquit Dr. 

 Riess, however, of any premeditated injustice toward me, and I am 

 not too proud to withdraw this expression in a way courteous and, 

 I trust, satisfactory to Dr. Riess. My memoir, as a scientific 

 document, I willingly leave to the dispassionate judgement of dis- 

 interested persons, who will, I am sure, properly appreciate all I 

 have advanced, and who will perhaps judge better than I can, 

 whether Dr. Riess has really given any substantial reply to it 

 or not. 



I remain. Gentlemen, 



Your obliged and faithful Servant, 

 6 Windsor Villas, Plymouth, W. Snow Harris. 



8tb July, 18^6. 



