Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 171 
surrounding objects, and consequently between each other also, dif- 
ferent quantities of electricity. Now we know that if two bodies of 
a similar nature (say two pith balls) contain dissimilar quantities of 
electricity, they will attract each other, the one containing the great- 
est charge being positive with regard to the other; and we may infer 
from this, if two bodies of a different kind,such as potassium and oxy- 
gen, assume, the one a positive and the other a negative electricity, 
when brought into contact (an admission necessary for the support 
of Sir H. Davy’s theory), that the potassium, which evinces a positive 
energy, contains more electricity than the oxygen, which becomes ne- 
gative. If so, if this obtains when both are placed under similar cir- 
cumstances,—both at an equilibrium of electricity, it follows in- 
evitably that they must have different capacities for electricity; so 
that the inference of different capacities for electricity is, we think, to 
the fullas clear as the inference of the attractive force or affinity being 
dependent onelectricity. This theory will account for some bodies 
having a disposition to unite, others evincing no such disposition at 
all,&c.: thus the two pith balls oppositely electrified, by the one con- 
taining an excess and the other a deficiency or at least a smaller 
quantity than the other, stand in the relation of two dissimilar sub- 
stances having different specific electricities, and consequently con- 
taining different quantities; and in like manner they possess an at- 
traction for each other, but no sooner do they touch than an equili- 
brium of electricity is established, and they are no longer in the same 
relative condition,inas much as each now contains the same quantity 
of electricity ; byreason of their specific electricities being equal, they 
therefore no longer have any attraction for each other. This is very 
different with regard to oxygen and potassium; these bodies when 
brought into contact powerfully attract each other, and then still 
maintain each its peculiar specific electricity, and consequently 
their mutual attraction continues: hence the reason why the elements 
of a compound retain their respective states of excitement, upon 
which the very existence of the compound depends. According to 
this view, substances which in their natural condition not only have 
no attraction or affinity for each other, but repel each other, (if any 
such actually exist,) should be considered as possessing like specific 
electricities; and the disparity in the force of attraction should be 
considered to depend on the disparity in the capacity for electricity. 
To illustrate this by an example, we should consider that the disparity 
between the specific electricity of oxygen and potassium is so great 
that they unite the moment they are brought within reach of each 
other;—then the disparity in the specific electricities of oxygen and 
hydrogen we should consider as less than that between the two for- 
mer, and therefore they do not unite when simply brought into con- 
tact; but they do not repel each other, therefore they do not possess 
equal specific electricities ; so that by making the disparity more ap- 
parent, (which is done by giving each a higher charge, as when an 
electric spark is passed through them,) they do attract each other, and 
unite—once united, their natural difference in electrical capacity 
suffices to huld them in union, Just so the two pith balls do not re- 
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