166 jicf.ounl qfsoms 'Llechicaf Lxpeiimcnts. 



nearly similar phaenomena, and was burst with analogous ap- 

 pearances at the fifth explosion : it had opened at the fourth. 



A leaden cylinder of the same size was very much swelled by 

 the first explosion, and perforated in three places : these effects 

 increased greatly with the second ; and by the third it was burst 

 open in a very curious manner, as is shown by fig. 7. 



This experiment was repeated with another cylinder of lead, 

 with precisely the same result, and in the same number of explo- 

 sions. 



A cylindrical tin vessel, four inches diameter and six inches 

 in height, was suspended by strings a short distance from the 

 ground in the open air, on the lawn in front of the electrical 

 room : the can was filled with water, and a leaden wire of two 

 inches long suspended within it, with its end touching the bottom 

 of the can. A charge of the battery of 75 feet, to 15 grains, being 

 passed through the leaden wire, it was melted ; about half the 

 water was projected into the air to a considerable height, and 

 the flat bottom of the can was bulged outwards, so as to assume 

 a spherical surface. 



M. De Nelis states that he made an^ experiment of this kind 

 with a cylinder of two inches diameter ; and that the water was 

 projected to the height of 40 feet. 



He also exploded a wire in a leaden tube of an inch diameter, 

 which was filled with water, and its ends stopped with corks ; 

 the corks were expelled with violence, and the tube much ex- 

 panded. 



Fig. 8 ^reprecents a thick cylinder in which the lead v/ire, 

 fig. 9, was introduced : the cylinder had a hole drilled in its 

 centre like a flute, so that the oil miglit be permitted to escape 

 when expanded ; but by three explosions of a battery of 75 feet 

 the rents exhibited in the figure were produced. 



These experiments certainly present very remarkable and per- 

 manent evidence of the expansive power of the electric charge ; 

 and it is difiicult to contemplate such extraordinary rzicchanical 

 effects, without admitting that the power by which thc\ are pro- 

 duced has at least the leading characteristics of a material sub- 

 stance. 



Broomfield, near Taunton, G. J. SlNGER. 



August 28, 1815. 



f^ Some other experiments of M. De Nelis will form the 

 subject of another communication. 



XXXIl. On 



