[ hS ] 



alone, would draw the bodies together ; but the mutual repulfion 

 of the two portions of the fluid tends to produce the oppofite 

 efFedl. The quiefcence of the bodies proves the equality of thefe 

 forces. 



If two bodies in oppofite ftates of eledrlcity be brought together, 

 the body pofitively eledlrified cannot be attradted towards- the 

 remaining eledric fluid belonging to the other, becaufe this body 

 may be confidered as faturated with the fluid, and that portion of 

 the fluid as faturated with folid matter. For the oppofite reafons 

 an attrad^ion will take place between the body negatively eledtrified 

 and the fluid belonging to the former. It remains to be fliewn, 

 that this attradlive force may exceed the mutual repulfion of the 

 two portions of fluid. It muft be obferved, that the repulfion re- 

 mains the fame, becaufe the fum of the two quantities of fluid is not 

 altered ; whereas the attracftion is augmented by the unequal dif- 

 tribution of the fluid. The one body is charged with more fluid 

 than that which its own attracting force is capable of retaining, 

 and the redundant fluid will confequently be fl:rongly impelled 

 towards the other body, whofe attradive power is at the fame 

 time increafed by the deficiency of its own portion of fluid. 



In the cafe of two bodies fimilarly eledtrified the bodies may 

 be either both pofitively, or both negatively eledlrified. When 

 they are both pofitively eledlrified, they are both faturated with 

 the eledric fl,uid ; and when they are both negatively eledlrified, 



both 



