Mr. W. Sturgeon on the Theory of Magnetic Electricity. 35 



the phaenomena exhibited by the deflections of the magnetic 

 needle; the more recent discoveries of the electric spark, and 

 other electrical phaenomena by the same mode of excitation, 

 (which have completely verified my anticipations as to the 

 real character of the excited force which operates on the 

 needle,) require to be arranged under another, and a very 

 different head. Magnetic Electricity is an appellation which 

 comprehends, and may very conveniently serve to express 

 generally, every class of phaenomena hitherto developed by 

 magnetic excitation of the electric matter, whatever may be 

 the character or form of the metal employed. It will there- 

 fore be more consistent with simplicity to confer on the whole 

 that general appellation ; and to designate, if necessary, each 

 individual class of phaenomena by its respective characteristic 

 properties. Precedents of this kind, distinguishing various 

 classes of phaenomena, are abundant in scientific nomenclature, 

 and cannot in this instance be reasonably objected to. 



Considering therefore that Magnetic Electricity is an appel- 

 lation at once emphatic, intelligible, and expressive of the ex- 

 citing agent, I have been induced to publish my theoretical 

 views of this subject under that general head. Moreover, it 

 so happens that the laws of this species of electric excitation 

 are not peculiar to the display of one class of phaenomena 

 only, but are applicable to the development of every fact 

 hitherto discovered in this branch of physics. It does not 

 therefore require that one mode of excitation should be ob- 

 served for the production of the electric, and another mode 

 for the production of the magnetic effects; but merely a diver- 

 sity in the arrangements of the apparatus : for whatever be 

 the character of the phaenomena to be exhibited, the same 

 laws of excitation are uniformly to be observed, — a circum- 

 stance*which affords another and very powerful argument in 

 favour of the adoption of the general significant appellation 

 Magnetic Electricity. 



Researches in magnetic electricity have hitherto been con- 

 fined to the disturbing of the natural equilibrium of the electric 

 fluid residing in metallic bodies, and perhaps other conductors 

 of electricity, by means of certain movements of those bodies, 

 with regard to natural or artificial magnets ; and some very 

 curious facts have been discovered by these modes of experi- 

 menting. 



It is certainly something to discover new facts, and some- 

 thing more to point out rules by means of which the novel 

 phaenomena may be uniformly exhibited. It very often hap- 

 pens, however, that in this stage of the inquiry, the develop- 

 ment of the most beautiful and interesting part of the science 



Third Series. Vol. % No. 7. Jan. 1833. F 



