Voltaic BatterieS) S^c, 145 



be used throughout. Or, again, that it might arise in part from 

 the practice of determining the measure of hydrogen, sometimes 

 by a division near the top of the long tubular meter here used, 

 and sometimes at the bottom of it ; under which different 

 circumstances, the volume of an equal measure of gas would 

 be a little different by reason of the varying strain upon its elas- 

 ticity. But the trifling variation that might have arisen from 

 this cause, was also avoided by invariably refilling the meter 

 after each single experiment, so that the y^th of a cubic inch 

 of gas was always under a uniform pressure. But in short, 

 after the utmost attention to the subject, I could discover no 

 peculiarity attending this particular method of experimenting 

 to which this effect could be attributed, with the most remote 

 appearance of probability. 



112. Sueh alternation then must be considered as apart 

 of the general phaenomena attending operations of this kind, 

 however unexpected or inexplicable it may be in the present 

 state of our acquaintance with the subject generally. 



113. I was unwilling in the first instance to register the re- 

 sults as they stand above, expecting that every succeeding re- 

 petition of experiment would show a greater regularity in the 

 operation of the arrangements ; or such a regularity as, by 

 preconceived notions, derived chiefly from the law above quo- 

 ted (98), I had been led to anticipate. It is obvious however, 

 that the operations brought into exercise by voltaic arrange- 

 ments of this description at least, are of a mixed and compli- 

 cated kind, influenced in some parts by causes as yet unde- 

 tected, and are certainly such as cannot be fully included in 

 any law similar to that just alluded to. The removing of the 

 plates further from one another does not affect their action, 

 merely by decreasing its amount, much less does that decrease 

 occur in the ratio stated in that law. 



114. Perceiving at this stage of the inquiry no satisfactory 

 or probable way of accounting for this peculiar result, I pro- 

 ceed on to the further experiments, in which it will be seen 

 that other indications of the same phaenomenon can be de- 

 tected in every direction, whether or not the results finally 

 obtained may be considered in every respect as contributing 

 satisfactorily to its explanation. 



[To be continued.] 



Phil, Mag, S. 3. Vol. 13. No. 80. Aug, 1838. 



