8 : A letter to Prof. Faraday. 
resulting from the polarization are thus reciprocally compensa- 
? I must confess, such a concentration of such forces or 
states, is to me difficult to reconcile with the conception that it is 
at all to be ascribed to the action of rows of contiguous pon- 
derable particles. 
e. Does not your hypothesis require that the metallic particles, at 
opposite ends of the wire, shall in the first instance be subjected 
to the same polarization as the excited particles of the glass; and 
that the opposite polarizations, transmitted to some intervening 
point, should thus be mutually destroyed, the one by the other? 
But if discharge involves a return to the same state in vitreous 
particles, the same must be true in those of the metallic wire. — 
Wherefore then are these dissipated, when the discharge is suffi- 
ciently powerful? Their dissipation must take place either 
while they are in the state of being polarized, or in that of re- 
turning to their natural state. But if it happen when in the first 
mentioned state, the conductor must be destroyed before the 
opposite polarization upon the surfaces can be neutralized by its 
intervention. But if not dissipated in the act of being polarized, 
is it reasonable to suppose that the metallic particles can be 
-sundered by returning to their natural state of depolarization? 
_ Supposing that ordinary electrical induction could be satisfac- 
torily ascribed to the reaction of ponderable particles, it cannot, it 
seems to me, be pretended that magnetic and electro-magnetic 
induction is referable to this species of reaction. It will be 
admitted that the Faradian currents do not for their production 
require intervening ponderable atoms. 
From a note subjoined to page 37 of your pamphlet, it appears 
that “ on the question of the existence of one or more imponder- 
able fluids as the cause of electrical phenomena, it has not been 
your intention to decide.” I should be much gratified if any of 
the strictures in which [ have been so bold as to indulge, should 
contribute to influence your ultimate decision. 
It appears to me that there has been an undue disposition to 
burden the matter, usually regarded as such, with more duties 
than it can perform. Although it is only uals the properties oby 
matter that we have a direct acquaintance, and the existence of 
matter rests upon a theoretic inference that since we perceive ve 
properties, there must be material particles to which those prop- 
erties belong ; yet there is no conviction which the mass of mall- 
bain 2 
pe. 
tae 
= t % a > 
EE I pte (nce yee py Sy aetit- eh pS te a eee Fee ee 4 Gare i> 2 7/ ert Rn 
