Mr. Faraday's Exj^erimental Researches in Electricity. 281 



the two'elementary plates of any arrangement may be changed ; 

 the nature of which change, and the circumstances under 

 which it takes place, I proceed immediately to examine in the 

 succeeding section. 



[To be continued.] 



XXXIX. Experimental Researches in Electricity. — Eleventh 

 Series. By Michael Faraday, Esq.^ D.C.L.F.R.S. Ful- 

 lerian Prof. Chem. Royal Institution^ Corr. Memb. Royal 

 and Imp. Acadd. of Sciences, Par-is, Petershurgh, Florence, 

 Copenhagen, Berlin, Sj-c. Sfc* 



§. 18. On Induction. ^ i. Induction an action of contiguous 

 particles. ^ ii. Absolute charge of matter. ^ iii. Elec- 

 trometer and inductive apparatus employed. % iv. Induc- 

 tion in curved lines. % v. Specific i?iductive capacity. 

 % vi. General results as to induction. 



% i. Induction an action of contiguous particles. 



1161. T^HE science of electricity is in that state in which 

 •^ every part of it requires experimental investigation; 

 not merely for the discovery of new effects, but, what is just 

 now of far more importance, the development of the means 

 by which the old effects are produced, and the consequent 

 more accurate determination of the first principles of action 

 of the most extraordinary and universal power in nature : — 

 and to those philosophers who pursue the inquiry zealously 

 yet cautiously, combining experiment with analogy, suspicious 

 of their preconceived notions, paying more respect to a fact 

 than a theory, not too hasty to generalize, and above all things, 

 willing at every step to cross-examine their own opinions, 

 both by reasoning and experiment, no branch of knowledge 

 can afford so fine and ready a field for discovery as this. 

 Such is most abundantly shown to be the case by the progress 

 which electricity has made in the last thirty years: Chemistry 

 and Magnetism have successively acknowledged its over- 

 ruling influence ; and it is probable that every effect depend- 

 ing upon the powers of inorganic matter, and perhaps most 

 of those related to vegetable and animal life, will ultimately 

 be found subordinate to it. 



1162. Amongst the actions of different kinds into which 

 electricity has conventionally been subdivided, there is, I 

 think, none which excels, or even equals in importance that 

 called Induction. It is of the most general influence in elec- 

 trical phaenomena, appearing to be concerned in every one of 

 • From the Philosophical Transactions for 1838, Part I. 



