i 07 1 



XIII. Es.^ay on Ihe FrankUnian Theory of Electricity . Bi^ 

 Samuel Woods, Esq^ Read before the Askesian So- 

 ciety in the Session lS02-3»* 



JL HK science of electnGity offers an exlenslve and interest- 

 ing field of inquiry to the curious and speculative mind : 

 the diligence of observation and experiment has collected 

 an almost unlimited variety of facts, which it is often diffi- 

 cult to refer by any perspicuous classitication to a few sim- 

 ple and general principles ; and notwithstanding the endea- 

 vours of philosophers well qualified by their situation, 

 talents and pursuits, to examine the effects, ascertain the 

 properties, and investigate the laws of this singular fluid, it 

 is still an arduous task to discover the connecting links 

 which unite the numerous phenomena in one luminous and 

 consistent system. Those striking appearances which ar- 

 rest attention and create astonishment, are perhaps less cal- 

 culated to convey substantial information than an accurate 

 and repeated scrutiny into the minuter effects and operations. 

 The recent and surprising discoveries in Galvanic electricity 

 anay convince us that our knowledge hardly penetrates be- 

 neath the surface. We know, indeed, that by rubbing a 

 piece of glass or sealing-wax particular signs and actions 

 are produced, which may be connnunicated to, and in cer- 

 tain circumstances retained by, other bodies : and we im- 

 pute these signs and actions to the influence of a peculiar 

 iluid, which we denominate electricity. But we are yet 

 unable to conceive the reason or the means by which fric- 

 tion generates this power, or how its passage is obstructed 

 or impeded by some particular substances ; vapours, clouds, 

 fogs, rain, and even the atmosphere, almost universally 

 and uniformly indicate, when examined by delicate instru- 

 ments, tlie presence of electricity ; and though it is reason- 

 able to conclude its agency of great extent and importance 

 in our s\ stem, we are still ignorant what office is assigned 

 to this subtile fluid in the oeeonomy of nature. 



It has justly been observed that the effects of electricity 

 are in many instances suictly mechanical, producing local 

 motion like gravitation, and therefore a proper subject of 

 mathematical investigation. The establishment of electrical 

 science on such prinei])Ies has been attempted by several : 

 in the opinion of the ingenious editor of the Supplement 



• Copied by permission fro;Ti the rccoiils of the society. 



Vol. XVII. No. «)G. to 



NoL'cmler 1803. 



