jot On the Frankllnian fheory 



The second proposition contains two positions : the af* 

 traction of this fluid to other nialtcrj and the repulsive ac^ 

 tion between its particles. That excited electrics will in-* 

 fluence light bodies at a considerable distance, by attracting 

 such towards them, is a fact too common to be controverted : 

 this property of attraction docs not appear to be the result 

 of any aflinity between the electric fluid and matter in ge- 

 neral, but to proceed from its tendency to equilibrium, and 

 its disposition or power to make use of other substances as 

 common carriers to restore it ; for light substances insulated 

 cannot act in this capacity, and will not be attracted by the 

 conductor. 



The repulsive action of the particles of the electric fluid 

 between themselves is a question involved in considerable 

 difficulty : the experiments in an exhausted receiver do not 

 indicate any analogy to air or other elastic fluids ; for, in- 

 stead of spreading wider and evincing its elasticity in pro- 

 portion as the resistance is diminished, the fluid passes in 

 an uninterrupted stream. There are, however, other cir- 

 cumstances which favour a repulsive quality. Thus, light 

 bodies after they become saturated are driven off": if a con- 

 ductor be brought near an excited cylinder, yet too distant 

 to receive a spark, and an index be placed at each end and 

 in the middle, the near end will be found negative, the re- 

 mote end positive, and the middle neuter, — proving that a 

 portion of electric matter has been driven off', by the action 

 of the excited cylinder, from the nearer to the remoter end; 

 and if a conducting body be presented to the remoter end 

 a spark maybe obtained, and on removing the cylinder the 

 whole conductor will be found in a minus or negative state : 

 this repvdsive quality is, too, much more sublile than the 

 fluid, and can act like gravitation, through substances which 

 the fluid itself is unable to peneirate. 



The repulsion between two pith balls negatively electrifiea 

 has received many mysterious solutions, none of which, as 

 far as I am acquainted, are at all satisfactoi"v. Without en- 

 terins into any obscure inquiry about repulsive qualities, 

 may we not refer the divergenee of two pith balls, both in 

 cases of positive and negative electricity, to one simple and 

 general principle of attraction ? When two pith balls are 

 artificiaHy surcharged with the electric fluid, its endeavour 

 to escape, or its attraction to the surrounding particles float- 

 iwx in the atmosphere, would impel the balls to expose the 

 utmost extent of their surface to discharge the superfluous 

 (juautity ; and as the nicst contiguous particles become sa- 

 turated. 



