404 RcJUcl'tons on the Inadequacy of' the principal Hypotheses 



which wc see innumenible cashes of siiljstances formed, as it were 

 to unite with and counteract one another. Here Hkewise, 

 ap;reeab!e to the theory of two electric fluids, while those sub- 

 btances are in union, we sec uothing of their separate and pe- 

 culiar powers, though they be ever so renuirkable. What, for 

 instance, do we see of the striking properties of the acid and 

 alkali while they are united in a neutral salt ?" 



The analogy, however, of acid and alkali with positive and 

 negative electricity is not just. The i>ositivc and negative states 

 are in all respects the same with respect to themselves and to 

 all other matter, although different with regard to each other. 

 But no two bodies can l>e more dissimilar in their properties 

 than acids and alkalies : they are in fact completely opposed to 

 each other. It therefore ill accords with our conce])tion of the 

 simplicity of Nature's operations to suppose tivo fluids of pre- 

 cisely the same effects in creation, and only different when op- 

 posed to each other. There is not even one evidence adduced 

 in favour of the supposition ; and, as shall he seen, it has no 

 claims to admission on account of its applicabihty to the ex- 

 planation of pha?nomena. 



2. The first part of the second principle, namely, that each 

 power while separate repels a similar power, but attracts that 

 which is dissimilar, carries with it an appearance of probability, 

 when the action of similarly and differently electrified bodies oil 

 each other is considered, and if the existence of two fluids be 

 admitted. This principle is however encumbered with a variety 

 of difliculties. Thus, if a pith-ball suspended by silk be electri- 

 iied, and brought near an unelectrified ball suspended in the 

 same manner, the latter is attracted, and after contact is re- 

 pelled. Mr. Eeles's hypothesis explains this by the supposition 

 that t!ie unelectrified ball contained its two different fluids in 

 combination, or in the state in which they exist in all bodies ; 

 that the electrified ball had only onp of its powers, the other 

 having been abstracted (in a manner that shall be shown here- 

 after) during its electrization : that \vhen the latter ball was ap- 

 proached, its power attracted the contrary power in the un- 

 electrified l)ody, and repelled the similar power, and hence the 

 attraction and repulsion. Here the order of the phaenomena 

 exists only in the order of the words ; for although the word 

 " attraction" precede the word " rejiulsion," yet the real attrac- 

 tion and repulsion of the opposite and similar powers of the 

 balls being coincident, they should counteract each other, and 

 the balls should remain at test; which is contrary to fact. There 

 seems but one way of avoiding this inference, which is so un- 

 favourable to the hypothesis, namely, by supposing attraction 

 to be a power superior to repulsion. But this supposition is 



leiidereJ 



