296 On the Theories of the 
city from the zinc plate, across the contigu- 
ous cell, to the next copper plate. 
Let us imagine, then, a series of copper 
and zinc plates, arranged in pairs for any 
number of repetitions; (See the Diagram in 
plate 5, fig. 1,) with cells between each pair for 
the purpose of containing a fluid. Before 
these cells are filled, every copper plate will, 
according to the hypothesis, be in the state of 
negative, and every zinc plate in that of posi- 
tive electricity. Let us farther suppose the 
natural quantity of electricity in each copper 
and zinc plate, before they are brought into 
apposition, to be denoted by gq, and that, 
when the electricity has passed from the cop- 
per to the zine, the ratio of the quantities in 
each may be as 1: 2.* Let now the cells be 
filled with a idineais fluid; every pair of 
contiguous plates of copper and zine will still 
maintain their relative proportions of electri- 
city, viz. as 1: m. But, by reason of the 
conducting power of the fluid, the electricities 
of the first zinc and second copper plates will 
be equalized; as, in succession, will be also 
those of the zinc plate 2, and copper plate 3, 
&e. Now in order to find the relative quan-' 
* For the algebraical expression of this theory, which, 
in the paper as originally read, I had stated in common 
numbers, I am indebted to my friend Mr. Dalton. 
