Mr. Davy’s Hypothesis of Electro-chemical Affinity. 229 
Ist. That bodies which possess for eech\other a chemical 
affinity are in different states of electricity. 
2d. That these bodies after combination still retain their 
different electricities. . 
‘ These Mr. Davy has not proved. Were they allowed, 
he certainly succeeds in establishing some of his points. 
But are we to grant for that reason what is entirely if op- 
position to the laws of electricity, which have been founded 
on the firm basis of experiment ? 
In opposition to these two assumptions, I shall endeavour 
to show : 
ist. That permanently supernatural states of electricity 
cannot exist. 
2d. That different states, after union, no longer display 
sensible properties. 
Entering on the inquiry, the question naturally occurs, 
How do these substances, when about to combine, acquire 
differently clectrical states? Whether do bodies possess an 
independent state of power, absolutely existing ; or is it al- 
ways acquired in consequence of separation after contact ? 
The former can scarcely be allowed, from the following 
considerations : 
Ist. Electricity can only exist in three states: in the na- 
ural, in the positive, or in the negative state. 
2d. The first is the state in which electricity always in- 
sensibly exists, until some action te exerted on it which 
causes it to become sensible, and then it appears in either 
the positive or_negative state. 
3d. The positive and negative are forced states, which 
can only exist while the primary exciting cause continues, 
unless they be detained by substances which allow of but 
a very slow passage. Even then, so transitory is their ex- 
istence, that they will insensibly disappear, once more 
forming natural electricity. 
These are facts that cannot be controverted. Sulphur, 
wax, glass, resin, silk, &c., when excited either strongly or 
feebly, will always in a little time return to their natural 
state. The stronger electricities of charged _conductors 
and the condénsed powers of batteries soon undergo the 
same change. Thus we are acquainted with no substance 
which has the property of retaining a forced state perma- 
nently. 
From observation of the fact, that some bodies when 
brought into contact and afierwards separated show signs 
of being differently electrified, it might appear that the “at- 
traction between such bodies would be a sufficient cause of 
F's combination. 
