New Outlines of Chemical Philosophy. 329 



Objection 2. It has been supposed that when one of the ele- 

 ments is passing from the inside of the phial towards the con- 

 ductor, and the other from the conductor into the phial, "these 

 two powers necessarily meet, and condense each other into the 

 form of Hanie : tliev return to the natural state, and therefore do 

 not exert any sensible action." 



Answer. It has been proyed by the pendulum electrometer 

 that the two elements, after having passed through the card in 

 opposite directions, still have power to throw otf the two pen- 

 dulums in a direction perpcnilicular to the card, so as to form an 

 angle with each other of 70 degrees. Consequently the two 

 elements exert a very sensible action on matter, after they have 

 generated combustion, and before the return to their natural 

 state. 



The 3d Objection is founded on the supposition that the two 

 elements in the natural state have a strong attraction for each 

 other. 



" If the two electricities have so great an attraction, why did 

 the power thrown in on one side overcome the attraction of the 

 similar to the contrary power naturally co-existing on the other 

 side ? Whv should not the natural combination remain unaltered, 

 when it was maintained bv a force equal to that which endea- 

 voured to effect a separation of its component electricities?" 



Answer. If the two elements of electricity have an attraction 

 for each other in their natural state, it must be strongest where 

 their ({uantities are greatest. Now the earth is the great re- 

 pository of these elements, from whence all the electrical energy 

 which is constantly acting in every part of the ceconomy of na- 

 ture is derived : consequently, according to this hypothesis, the 

 attraction of tliese elements for each other must be inconceivably 

 greater in the earth than in small (juantities o' matter. 



How is it possible, then, that all the various compositions and 

 decompositions in meteorology should take place, and that all 

 the living functions of animals and vegetables should be carried 

 on, if a strong attraction existed in the natural state of these 

 two elements ? 



From a great lumibcr of experiments which I have made upon 

 this subject, it evidently appears to be an invariable law of na- 

 ture, that the slightest excitement of an electric is sufficient to 

 attract the contrary element out of the earth. 



The following experiment proves to a demonstration that the 

 two elements of electricity, in their natural state, have no at- 

 traction for each other. 



A conductor AB, consisting of a brass rod 12 inches long, 

 having a ball of the same metal fixed to each end of it, was 

 })laccd upon an insulating stand^ and a jar electrometer placed 



at 



