EULOGY OX ALEXANDER YOLTA. 133 



platiua, tbe least fusible of all known metals. We may add tbat, with 

 a powerful battery, two slender wires of gold or platinum exhibit, at the 

 moment of contact, a disintegration so complete tbat they vanish in the 

 form of a light vapor. 



Charcoal, applied to the two extremities of these same wires, takes 

 fire as soon as the wires are brought into contact. Tbe light ditiused 

 by them is so pure, so dazzling, so remarkable for its whiteness, that 

 it is not transcending tbe limits of truth to compare it to that of tbe 

 sun. Who knows, even, whether this analogy may not be carried still 

 further, whether this exi)eriment may not solve one of tbe greatest 

 problems of natural philosophy, and give tbe clew to tbat peculiar kind 

 of combustion displayed by the sun for so many ages, with no sensible 

 loss of matter or brilliancy ? The carbon attached to tbe two wires of 

 tbe pile in fact becomes incandescent, even in tbe most perfect vacuum. 

 Nothing, then, is taken from, or added to, their substance. After au 

 experiment of this kind, whatever may have been its duration, tbe car- 

 bons are found, as to their inner nature and weight, in their original 

 condition.* 



Every one knows that platinum, gold, copi)er, &c., do not act sensibly 

 on a magnetic needle. Wires of these different metals attached to the 

 two poles of the pile follow the same law, if taken separately. But, on 

 tbe contrary, from tbe moment they come in contact, a very intense 

 magnetic action is developed. Besides, during the whole period of con- 

 tact, these wires are themselves genuine magnets, they attract iron- 

 filings and communicate a permanent magnetism to steel bars placed 

 transversely to them. When tbe pile is very powerful, and the wires, 

 instead of touching, are at some distance, a bright light unites their 

 extremities. Intact, this light is magnetic; a magnet can attract or 

 repel it. If, to-day, without being prepared for it, I mean with only the 

 knowledge of their day, Franklin and Coulomb should bear me speak 

 of a liame being attracted by a magnet, tbe most tlattering sentiment I 

 could expect would undoubtedly be one of decided incredulity. Let us 

 sui)pose tbe same wires slightly separated and immersed in a liquid, 

 pure water, for example. Tbe water will be instantly decomposed ; the 

 two gaseous elements forming it will be disunited ; the oxygen will bo 

 liberated from the surface of tbe end of tbe wire from tbe zinc pole; and 

 the hydrogen quite distant from that, at the point of the wire fiom tbe 

 copper pole. The bubbles rise separately through tbe liquid, and the 

 two constituent gases may therefore be collected in two separate vessels. 

 If we substitute for tbe pure water a li<piid holding in solution saline 

 matter, the pile will then analyze this matter. Tbe acids will pass to 

 tbe zinc pole and tbe alkalies to tbe copper. 



This is tbe most powerful method of analysis known. It has recently 

 enriched science w'ith a multitude of important results. It is, for in- 



*Thi8 is not correct; tbere is a transfer of the iiarticles of carbon from one polo to 

 the other.— J. IF. 



