284 Mr. Mullins on the Development and Action 



results, to experiment for himself before he goes to the addi- 

 tional expense of large quantities of zinc, and of their necessary 

 consequences, increased expenditure of muriate of ammonia 

 and sulphate of copper, or acids, if he prefer using them. 

 The mode of action of the sulphate of copper in the vohaic 

 circuit is singular, and appears not to have been noticed by any 

 of those gentlemen who have hitherto used it. The opinion 

 seems to be, that in order to keep up the electrical action in 

 regard to quantity as well as tension, it is necessary that the 

 solution should be kept in a state of saturation. This is not the 

 case ; the solution does not require the addition of crystals 

 until nearly every particle of copper has been precipitated 

 and the liquid has lost almost all its blue tinge, which fact 

 clearly shows that the effects do not depend upon the quantity 

 of copper in solution, but upon a certain quantity precipitated 

 in a given time, and that so long as that quantity remains to 

 be precipitated, so long is there no diminution of power. In 

 my batteries, which I have often in action for two or three 

 months, 1 never keep the solution in a state of saturation ; and 

 whenever I find that the precipitation has been nearly com- 

 pleted, I can draw off the original charge (of the sulphate) and 

 introduce a fresh supply, without the least interference with the 

 electric action. In cases where crystals are kept in the solution, 

 I have strong grounds for thinking that the action of the liquid 

 on these crystals has a tendency to interfere with the full deve- 

 lopment of electricity in the solution. It would appear from 

 this peculiar property, if I may so call it, of the sulphate, as 

 well as from the results of many experiments which I hope to 

 detail in a future paper, that a large proportion of the electri- 

 city which becomes sensible in this case is produced by the re- 

 turn of the copper to its metallic state, which change obliges 

 it to disengage a certain proportion of the electricity with 

 which it was previously combined in its state of a salt ; and 

 further, that the definite proportions of all elements in their 

 various combinations depend upon the proportions of the elec- 

 tric aether with which the material molecules are either accom- 

 panied or combined ; — that this aether governs the definite pro- 

 portions of all combinations, no two elements having similar 

 proportions of electricity combining, and those which have 

 different proportions uniting; — that as there is but one electric 

 fluid, if it can be so called, negative electricity is an improper 

 term, less positive being more appropriate; — that electricity is 

 capable of expansion and contraction under certain circum- 

 stances ; — that in all cases where two or more elements are 

 combined, if the addition of another causes new combinations, 

 separation of one of the original elements, or any other change, 



