11s On Chemical Philosophy. 
and phenomena of nature. It is there evident that this POWER 
is more or less impeded in its passage through matter, as bodies 
differ in their conducting power and capacity, and according to 
their greater or less degree of solubility in it: and hence it fol- 
lows, that all things dissimilar and in contact become relatively 
to each other in excess or defective—negative or positive; and 
of course exhibit proofs of these disturbed and deranged states. 
From the energetic reactions of this power, arising from these 
disturbances, they further either destroy each other, or assimi- 
late into one, or give rise ‘to new forms and existences. Thus 
iron nails in sheets of copper, and every arrangement of dissi- 
milar substances, either rapidly corrode or produce some decom- 
position. Thus gases are produced by the strata in the earth, 
rocks of dissimilar composition moulder into soil, &c. It is on 
these principles of derangement, and on the effort of nature to 
effect a proper distribution, that I shall attempt in these Essays 
to explain all the movements and changes of the universe,—an 
explanation which I think we shall find confirmed, the more 
closely we attend to the operations and phenomena of nature 
and art. 
The explanation now given (which as far as I know is different 
from every other) is,! conceive, the true one, of the different pheno- 
mena and effects produced by electric and galvanic contrivances, 
The Electric contrivances to be hereafter explained, I propose 
to call MECHANICAL, and the Galvanic cHEMIcaL. In both in- 
statces the same grand, attractive and solvent power is called 
into action. In electricity, this GRAND AGENT of nature is, 
from its attraction for substances, disturbed in its due and rela- 
tive diffusion, by motion and friction; and when these me- 
chanical actions are made in a given direction, a current of this 
power is attracted and carried in the same course; the point 
from which itis abstracted becomes negative, and in its turn de- 
mands a new supply. It is thus that the action of the electric 
machine, and all the facts and experiments connected with electric 
science, on these principles receive a ready explanation. In the 
production of this power by the electric machine, as fast as 
that part of the machine from which the revolutions of the cylin- 
der recede, is robbed of its natural quantity, it demands it from 
the earth and surrounding media; (hence the necessity of a con- 
ducting and communicating chain 3) while, on the other hand, 
that side to which the motion proceeds, receives this current by 
means of metallic points fixed to the prime conductor, where 
by its insulation it is retained and accumulated. This power is 
called into action in galvanism in a different way, but still de- 
pending on the same principles; with this exception, as we have 
already 
