ON 



VOLTAIC ELECTRICITY. 



BY THE REV. T. R. ROBINSON, R T. C. D. M. R. I. A. 



Read Nov. 23, 1818. 



Eighteen years have now passed, since the celebrated Philoso- 

 pher of Pavia gave a new impulse to physical research by the in- 

 vention of the apparatus, which bears his name. The observation, 

 which, in the hands of Galvani and others, had remained an in- 

 sulated and barren fact, or at most subservient to Physiology alone, 

 when developed by his penetrating genius, became the key to a 

 new world ; it gave new plumes to the wing of Chemistry ; and 

 the result was a career of discovery, which changed the whole 

 science, and has immortalized the fortunate individual, who 

 achieved it. But, while the chemical facts, which were obtained 

 by the pile of Volta, have been prosecuted to the utmost, it is to 

 be regretted, that the instrument itself has been left nearly as it 

 came from its inventor ; its theory is unknown ; the mode of using 

 it with the greatest effect doubtful ; and every construction of 



VOL. XIII. s 



