198 Electricity and Galvanism explained on the 



electrics merely relative to the powers of air, and governed by 

 the relative powers oi eacii to the otiicr, as partial conductors 

 and partial electrics ? 



These questions, and the consideration of all the facts, lead 

 to the general conclusion. — that there is no iltiid sui generis pro- 

 ducing electrical phsenomena — nor any peculiar fluid, nor any 

 fluid whatever concerned in electrical phaenotneua — and that all 

 this class of phenomena arises from the mechanical decomposi- 

 tion, or temporary separation of the constituent elements of the 

 atmospheric air, or electric medium or fluid interposed between 

 conducting surfaces, within which electrics all the phasnomeria 

 take place, as well between them and conductors, as between 

 them and otlier adjaceni electrics, r.nd hetween them and other 

 electrics and condv.ciors. 



Electricity is, therefore, an accident of air, or of the atoms of 

 air, just as wind is an accident of air in mass; and it would be 

 as rational to refer a stcrm tc n peculiar fluid, as it is to refer 

 the phaenomena called electrical, to a peculiar fluid. 



But at the time when tl,c pe:;uliar fluid was first invented,the 

 constituent parts of air had not been discovered, just as the two- 

 fold motions of the earth v/e:e not suspected 'vhen the fall of 

 bodies was superstitiouslv ascribed lO the earth's attraction ; or 

 just as the rotation of tlie earth round the fulcrum of the earth 

 and moon was not suspectecrwhen the tides were snperstitiously 

 ascribed to the attraction of the noon^ But new facts and im- 

 proved reasoning render :t highly proper to get rid of all these 

 properties per se, fluids sid generis, and attractions without me- 

 chanical cause ! Philosophy must be cleared of them, or the 

 schools of philosophy will soon be as contemptible for their ap- 

 peals to faith, as any of the temples of any superstition with 

 which ignorant tribes are abused by a selfish priesthood, in any 

 part of the world. 



Behold how beautiful and simple electricity rises on the wreck 

 of the superstitions with which it has hitherto been entangled! 



The excitement, whatever it be, is mechanical, and it pro- 

 duces the mechanical effect of separating the constituent atoms 

 of an affected or electrified plate of air or other electric. 



If we excite glcss, &c. we produce a preponderance of the acid 

 or oxygen atoms on the proximate surface of air, and the with- 

 drawing of tliese necessarily occasions an apparent preponderance 

 of alkaline or azotic atoms on the opposed surface which it has 

 hitherto been so difficult to understand. 



If we coal the glass surface with a conductor, or congeries 

 of atoms more capable than glass or air of conducting heat or 

 atomic motion, we then unite or connect the points of the elec- 

 tric plate or plate of air. 



If 



1 



