414 PELTIER ON THE CAUSES OF THE 
these vapours accumulated into clouds than when they were 
equally disseminated. § 44. 
17th. When the temperature rises and these primitive clouds 
return to the state of elastic vapour, it is under the resinous in- 
duction of the earth below and under the vitreous induction 
above. The first vapours which arise from them are more 
strongly resinous, whilst the latter are less so. The atmosphere 
then contains masses of resinous elastic vapours, and masses of | 
vitreous elastic vapours. In a word, there are then transparent 
clouds, some charged with resinous electricity, others charged 
with vitreous electricity, and intermediately some neutral spaces, 
which are the bright ones. The limits of these transparent 
clouds may be found by means of a kite or a balloon. §§ 45, 
46, 52, 53. 
18th. The condensation of these transparent clouds forms | 
secondary opake clouds charged with their respective electrici- | 
ties. A new elevation in the temperature produces a new di- 
vision in the electric charges. The first vapours produced are | 
more resinous than the preceding ones, the last are less so; they | 
are vitreous in relation to the superior vapours and resinous in © 
relation to the inferior. It is after these successive condensa- 
tions and evaporations that the superior vapours acquire stronger 
and stronger resinous tensions, and that those near the ground 
become more vitreous. Intermediately there are some of differ- 
ent degrees, which are maintained separate by the difference 
of their specific weight. § id. 
19th. In proportion as the vapours, by this series of trans- 
formations, are charged with an increasing electricity, their mo- 
lecules repel each other more; they are also more repelled from 
the earth or attracted towards space; they rise to heights greatly 
superior to those which correspond to their specific weight. 
These opake or transparent clouds, charged with different de- 
grees of resinous electricity, (some of which, in relation to the 
tension of the globe, which serves as a standard, are resinous, 
and others vitreous,) neutralize each other when they approach, 
in consequence of the condensations which the depressions of 
‘temperature and the diminished terrestrial repulsion cause them 
to undergo. When there are other strata of clouds interposed, 
exchanges are made, which vary with their mode of agglome- 
ration and their conductibility. These exchanges produce sud- 
