New EkBrical Apparatus. i7§ 



IX. 



Account of the new Ele3rical or Galvanic Apparatus ofSig. Alex. Volta, and Experimtntt 



performed with ike/afne.—W. N. 



J7 ROM motives of delicacy to the inventor of the moft curious and important combina- 

 tion hereafter to be defcrlbed, I forbore giving an account of its conftruftion and efFefts in 

 the laft number of this Journal, though it has now been a fubjeft of great attention among 

 philofophers for near two months. It appeared proper to avoid the publication of fafts, 

 originally flowing from the liberal communication of the worthy prefident of the Royal 

 Society, until the paper of the inventor had been read to that learned body ; and this could 

 not be done till very lately, becaufe the latter part of his memoir did not arrive till long 

 after the firfl four pages. 



The Right Honourable Sir J. Banks, Bart. P. R. S. having favored my friend Anthony 

 Carliflc, Efq. with the perufal and confideration of thefe four pages at the latter end of laft 

 April, I had the pleafure to look them over with him, immediately after which he con- 

 ftrufted an inftrument according to Sig. Volta's dire£lions. The experiments made with 

 this will form part of the prcfent communication ; but in the firft place, I {hall endeavour 

 to relate the leading particulars of the communication made to the Royal Society, which 

 no doubt will hereafter appear at large in their Tranfa£lions. 



The portion of letter which fit ft arrived from Sig. Volta, is dated from Como in the 

 Milanefe, March 20, 1800. This, together with the fubfequent parts, contains a detailed 

 account of the inftrument, of which the following is one of the moft convenient forms. 



Take any number of plates of copper, or which is better of filver, and an equal number 

 of tin, or which is much better, zinc, and a like number of difcs, or pieces of card or 

 leather, or cloth *, or any porous fubftance capable of retaining moifture. Let thefe laft 

 be foaked in pure water, or which is better, fait and water, or alkaline lees. The filver or 

 copper may be pieces of money +• Build up a pile of thefe pieces ; namely, a piece of 

 filver, a piece of zinc, and a piece of wet card : then another piece of filver, a piece of 

 zinc, and a piece of wet card : and fo forth, in the fame order (or any other order, pro- 

 vided the pieces fucceed each other in their turn) till the whole number intended to be 

 made ufe of is builded up. The inftrument is then completed. 



In this ftate it will afford a perpetual current of eleftricity, through any conduftor com- 

 municating between its upper and lower plates ; and if this condu£tor be an animal, it will 

 receive an eleftrical (hock as often as the touch is made, by which the circuit is com- 



• Woollen or lintn cloth appear to be more durable, and more fpeedily foaked than card. 



t Moft of our philofophers have ufed half crowns for the filver plates. The zinc may be bought at 

 Ed. per lb. at the White Lion in Fofter Lane, and caft in moulds of ftone or chalk. A pound majjtf 

 twenty thick pieces of the diameter of half a crown, on. 3 inches diameter. 



A a 2 pleted. 



