20 On Electricity. 
combined electricity m supporting combustion, or producing an 
evolution of light and heat, is always the most powerful, from the 
extreme states of the fluid; and equally perfect in effect, whether 
the quantity employed be great or small: it is on this account, 
that the ordinary electric lights are much more brilliant than 
those that are obtained by any other means. 
The influence of oxygen does not appear to produce any effect 
where uncombined electricity is employed. 
If a combustible body, charcoal for instance, be placed in a 
vessel of nitrogen or hydrogen gas, on connecting it with the two 
ends of the electro-chemical apparatus, the light is equally bril- 
liant with that which is obtained in atmospherical air: or, if 
the charcoal be placed under an exhausted receiver, an equal 
effect will be produced. The combustion of the charcoal is 
equally vivid in water or carbonic acid gas ; but in the two latter 
instances it might be objected that the bodies were decomposed, 
and oxygen supplied from them. 
Then briefly to sum up this view: the evolution of light and 
heat, or the general effects of what is termed combustion, appears 
to arise out of the rapid union .of opposite states of electricity, 
either independent and uncombined, or effected by means of 
certain bodies in which it resides; and that the combination of 
the ultimate particles of sensible masses can only take place 
through the influence of those portions of electricity for which 
the bodies haye a specific capacity; and that the properties of 
these bodies arise out of their electrical states: thus generally 
tending to support those established principles of Sir H. Davy, 
that all chemical combination is dependent upon electrical union. 
If these observations should be found worthy of a place in 
your very useful publication, I shall take another opportunity 
of extending this subject a little further, and of tracing some of 
the analogies of light and heat with electricity, and the influence 
of these universal agents in the ceconomy of nature. 
I am, sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
Joun WEBSTER. 
To Messrs. Nicholson and Tilloch. 
Fe a I OS EE 
V. On Electricity. By Groner Joun SincEr, Esq. 
Sons time since, I ventured to rectify some erroneous state- 
ments of Mr. Ez. Walker’s on the subject of electricity; re- 
garding them as the mistakes of a novice in that science, which 
it might be useful to correct for the advantage of other young 
electricians, $f 5; 
Had 
