On Electricity. wi) 366 
The first consists of a reprint of a paragraph from one of his 
former papers*, which contains nothing but Mr. Singer’s po- 
sitive assertions. Mr. S. then adds, ‘‘ these are facts, which 
the constant repetition of such experiments professionally en- 
ables me to state with confidence.” 
But philosophical statements must be demonstrated, either 
mathematically, physically, or experimentally, ere they can be 
received as facts. For, as the bare word of Newton would never 
be taken on a philosophical subject without a demonstration, 
consequently the assertions of Mr. 8, cannot be admitted on 
any other terms, 
Secondly, Mr. Singer says, ‘ the statement in the preceding 
paragraph may be verified in a few minutes by any one suth- 
ciently acquainted with the practice of electricity to make the 
experiments with due accuracy; and I lelteve it not only ad- 
duces a fact in proof of Mr. Walker’s error, but offers the re- 
quisite information to show him its cause.” 
But the word lLelief is very objectionable, although it is the 
foundation on which Mr. S, builds his statement. The geome- 
tricians have not suffered this word to stain their pages once in 
2000 years: and the experimental philosophers have, long ago, 
blotted it out of all their demonstrations. 
Had Mr. S. understood the true meaning of this word, he 
_would not have used it in the sense he has done, He has ad- 
vanced it as a sound argument against my experiments ;_ but will 
he admit it as an argument against himself? Let us try the ex- 
periment. If any one should say he Jelieved that Mr. S.is a 
very superficial reasoner, it is ten to one that Mr. S. would ad- 
mit the word belief, in this case, as a demonstration of the 
weakness of mental faculties. And if he will not admit this 
word as an argument against himself, he ought not to have used 
it against my experiments. 
And thirdly, Mr. S. observes, “independent of this cireum- 
stance, it is amusing to find an individual so confident of the 
infallibility of his own observations, as to consider them suffi- 
cient to subvert the experience of Canton, Franklin, Wilke, 
fpinus, Cavallo, Stanhope, and Robison. 
Whether Mr. S. intended this last statement as a specimen of 
his wit, or of his reasoning, | know not. But as Mr. S. will 
not, I presume, be offended at my mentioning the name of a 
great astrouomer on the same page with his own, let it, there- 
fore, be supposed that Mr, Singer had lived in the days of Co- 
pernicus—Mr, Singer might then have said, that “ it was very 
amusing to find an individual so confident of the infallibility of 
his own observations, as to consider them sufficient’? to prove 
* Phil. Mag. vol. xlii. p. 264, 
“ that 
