On some Chemical Agencies of Electrldtij. 233 



many mineral formations have been materially influenced, or 

 fVen occasioned by its agencies. 



In an experiment that I made of electrifying a mixed so- 

 lution of muriates of iron, of copper, of tin, and of cobalt, 

 in a positive vessel, distilled water being in a negative ves- 

 sel, all the four oxides passed along the asbestus, and into 

 the negative tube, and a vcllow metallic crust formed on the 

 wire, and the oxides arranged themselves in a mixed state 

 round the base of it. 



In another experiment, in which carbonate of copper 

 was diftused through water in a state of minute division, 

 and a negative wire placed in a small perforated cube of zeo- 

 lite in the water, green crystals collected round the cube ; 

 the particles not being capable of penetrating it. 



By a midtiplicalion of such instances the electrical power 

 of transference may be easily conceived to apply to the ex- 

 planation of some of the principal and most n)ysterious facts 

 in oeoloiiy. 



And by imagining a scale of feeble powers, it would be 

 easy to account for the association of the insoluble metallic 

 and earthy compounds, containing acids. 



Natural electricity has hitherto been little investigated, 

 except in the case of its evident and powerful concentration 

 in the atmosphere. 



Its slow and silent operations in everv part of the surface 

 will probably be found more innnediately and Importantlv 

 coiuieetcd with the order and oeconomy of nature; and in- 

 vestigations on this subject can hardly fail to enlighten our 

 philosophical systems of the earth ; and may possibly place 

 new powers within our reach. 



Explanation ()/' ifie Figures. Plate 111. 



Fig. 1, Represents the agate cups, mentioned page 5. 



I'ig. 2, Represents the gold cones, page 7. 



Fig. 3, Represents the glass tubes, and their attached ap- 

 paratus, page 105. 



Fig. 4', Represents the two glass tubes, with the interme- 

 diate vessel, page 106. 



In all the figures AR denote the wires, rendered one posi- 

 tively, the other negativelv electiical ; and C the connecting 

 p'.eces of njoistcncd amianthus. 



XXXI r. /7;v- 



