of Elcclr'idlij. 103 



turated, the balls will diverge, to find fresh particles capable 

 of rclicvitiji them, in exact proportion to the degree of their 

 charge. The same reasoning in an inverted order applies 

 to the negative divergency : the particles immediatelv con- 

 tignous are deprived of their natural share of the electric 

 fluid to restore the equilibrium; and in proportion as these 

 arc insufiicient to supply the demand, the balls will diverc-e 

 to obtain it from the next and succeeding ranges of parti- 

 cles. The air is probably a very good electric ^ and as no 

 actual and continuous communication subsists between the 

 heterogeneous conducting particles floating in the atmo- 

 sphere, the transmission of the electric fluid to and from 

 tiie balls, by a conveyance between such conducting but 

 insulated substances, must be too slow and gradual to^prc- 

 vent the divergency alluded to. This hypothesis seems (I 

 mean to myself) both simple: and probable : I have en- 

 deavoured to illustrate by a figure the detail of this diver- 

 gency. 



Let A,B, (fig. 1. Plate III.) represent two pith balls sus- 

 pended from a point C by the threads AFC, JBGC, and let 

 the semicircles concentric to each represent particles floatino- 

 in the atmosphere: the mutual attraction between these par- 

 ticles and the electric fluid contained in the balls A,B, when 

 positively electrilied, will draw the ball A from the ball B 

 tov.ards a in the line AD; and, when o particles are satu- 

 rated, to l',r,(I,p,f, g,h, successively in the ratio of the 

 charge till tlie redundant quantity is discharged, or, as may 

 be supposed the connnon case, till the powers of attraction 

 and gravitation are balanced, and the balls rest inequilibrio. 

 In the same nianner and upon the same principles B will 

 recede to P, and both balls will cease to recede whenever 

 their gravity balances the attractive power betw een the fluid 

 and the atmosphere : in the same manner, in the case of 

 negative electricity both balls require an additional portion, 

 and, unable to obtain a suf£cient quantity from a,i, traverse 

 suecessivelv to Ji,p, till the equilibrium of the fluid is re- 

 stored, or a balance produced between the attractive and 

 gravitating ]K)v>ers. 



The third proposition respects the inaction of the elec- 

 tric fluid in a state of uniform dilfusion, and the facility 

 w iih which its natural e<iuilibriun) is destroved. The first 

 position is supported by the general analogy of fluids ; all 

 i)\' which have a tendency to difl'usc themselves in confor- 

 jiiity to some general laws, and at a certain period become 

 stationary, producing no cognizable efl'ects. We have 

 ivcr\' rea-on to believe that the electric fluid, as well as ca- 

 (J 1 loric, 



