196 "Eleclricify and Galvanism explained on the 



of these Essays, as the devotees of the gravitating effluvia and of 

 the eternal projectile force, on its being proved that there is in 

 truth no such thing as an electrical fluid, and tliat ail the ap- 

 pearances are mere mechanical accidents of passive matter tem- 

 porarily disturbed by the causes which generate electrical phae- 

 nomena. 



We shall not be long in arriving at this concIu<;ion ; but we 

 must look to FACTS, and not to theories; and must avoid false 

 analogies founded on erroneous tlieories. 



Fact 1. Every exhibition of electrical phasnomena takes place 

 in and within electrjcs only. 



Fact 2. The condensation or accumulation offeree takes place 

 at the surface of any body, which bounds the electric. 



Fact 3. No force appeals at one surface of an electric, unless 

 a similar force appears at the opposed surface. 



Fad 4. The force at one surface is of a contrary character to 

 that at the opposed surface. 



Fact b. Tlie force at one surface has an oxygenating or acid 

 effect, and that at the opposed surface an azotic or alkaline ef- 

 fect. 



Fact G. In the galvanic excitement a palpable decomposition 

 takes place in the fluid lying between the piates, and tlie latent 

 elements decomposed appear in the acid ami alkali at the oppo- 

 site ends of the series. 



Fact 7. Ill the excitement of glass and all other electric plates, 

 one side of the plate becomes sinmltatjeonsly in an opposite state 

 to the other, and must therelbre be of suitable thickness and in 

 circumstances permitting its corresponding change of state, and 

 the opposed sides exhibit respectively the acid and alkaline pro- 

 perties. 



Fact 8. It makes no difference whether the conducting surface, 

 which bounds the electric, be thick or thin ; whether it be a 

 solid metal or gold leaf. 



Fact 9. When the electric plate as such is destroyed by the 

 interposition or contirmity of any non-electric, or conductor, an 

 equilibrium takes place within the disturbed electric; and the 

 opposed surfaces of the electric cease to exhibit electrical phae- 

 uonicna. 



Fact 10. W'hen the oppo-ed surfaces are brought near to each 

 other, an e<juiiibrium takes place by a spark which proceeds from 

 anv projecting point of one of the surfaces ; and heat and light 

 are elicited. 



Fad 1 1 . Unless the parts of each opposed surface are united, 

 or rendered continuous by a conductor, the phsenomena are in- 

 considerable. 



Fad 12. Some mechanical action, as friction, variation of 



volume, 



