Mr. Laming on the primary Forces of Electricity. 53 



of its former charge will then remain, until by their increased 

 contiguity to the conductor C it is enabled again to assume 

 the compensation. 



61. Again, let P N be charged as before, and the conductor 

 C, now terminated by points^ be introduced as shown in the 

 figure; the free electricity of its plus extremity p' will be re- 

 tarded with less force than in the previous case, when its ends 

 were blunt; and the minus common matter of its point w' 

 will, in consequence of its reduced size, sustain the compen- 

 sation of a much larger comparative quantity of free electricity 

 in P, and accordingly exert a corresponding intensity of 

 major force. 



62. Such an insulated conductor of given figure as Cou- 

 lomb has called a proof plane applied successively to different 

 parts of the surface of a plus conductor of irregular figure, 

 will during each contact sustain an amount of atmospheric 

 compensation proportionate to that of the part against 

 which it is applied ; and hence become charged with a quan- 

 tity of free electricity proportional to the quantity accumu- 

 lated on that part. But on removal from the charged sur- 

 face it will in all the cases acquire the same amount of atmo- 

 spheric compensation ; and consequently in each case an in- 

 tensity of charge varying as the square of its quantity of free 

 electricity. 



63. The preceding deductions of the theory embrace all 

 the most important cases of what is ordinarily called elec- 

 trical action, that is to say, of the action of free electricity 

 accumulated on the surface of conductors. Their experi- 

 mental illustrations are too obvious to need, and in so short a 

 paper too multitudinous to admit of, being specified. The 

 accordance of theory and fact may not in all cases appear at 

 first sight, especially if any of the steps in the argument 

 brought forward have been treated in a cursory manner ; but 

 if they be attentively considered in series, they will, I appre- 

 hend, bear the strictest criticism. 



64. In concluding this part of the theory it becomes neces- 

 sary to add an important observation or two. Without having 

 entered into the question of the cause of Coulomb's law, we 

 have hitherto confined ourselves to the facts embraced by it in 

 order to show their perfect consistency with the doctrine of 

 compensation, which we have shown to be a function of the 

 major electrical force and necessarily proceeding from its de- 

 finite nature. I cannot but believe that in doing this I have suc- 

 ceeded in proving that the repulsive force supposed to be in- 

 herent in electricity, or in electrified bodies, is superfluous ; and 

 that all the phsenomena which are commonly ascribed to such 



