Hare on Electricity, 105 
made divergent, in pleno or in vacuo, in a small vessel, will 
se ected by a like influence, if suspended in an 
exhausted receiver sufficiently large. 1 am aware, that the 
air prevents the electric fluid from escaping, by its insulating 
power, and that when it is removed, electrometrical leaves 
cannot be sustained in a state of excitement much higher 
than the rare mediumabout them. Thus situated it may be 
alleged, that repulsion can no more act between them, to 
produce separation, than it does without them to keep them 
ether. But this reasoning would apply, equally, whether 
they be ina large, ora small receiver; and, of course, does 
not account for the influence which the size of the receiver 
has on the divergency. 
Iwill now adduce some additional facts and arguments, 
in opposition to the doctrine of two fluids. 
According to Franklin, positive and negative, as applied 
to electricity, merely designate relative states of the same 
id. If, of three bodies, the first have more electricity 
than the second, and less than the third, it will be positive 
with respect to the second, and negative with respect to the 
third. According to Du Faye, there is a radical difference 
between vitreous and resinous electricity ; and though sep- 
arately exercising intense action, they neutralize each other 
by union. It is universally admitted, that the fluid evolved 
by the prime conductor of a glass cylinder machine, and 
that evolved by the cushion, are of different kinds or states. 
ding to the American theory, the first is positive, the 
last negative. According to the French theory, the first is 
Vitreous, the last resinous. 
the other. . In this case, the conductors, thus associated, 
with a cushion on one side, and collecting points on the 
other, might be substituted for both. When this compound 
: * See Plate—Figure 2. 
Vor. VIT.--No. l. 1 
