1824.] Conductors when transmitting the Electric Current. 283 



on a new power of the electric current of a nature, bearing 

 some analogy to the magnetic action, Or possibly resulting from 

 it; but this in the present state of our investigation would be 

 too bold an hypothesis, especially as it is also a very vague one. 



50. But whatever conclusions we may form, the phenomena 

 are certainly interesting, and promise to afford abundant matter 

 for future research. Meanwhile, it is not improbable that many 

 phenomena of minute intestine motions usually attributed to 

 capillary attraction, generation of heat, or other causes, may be 

 referrible to similar causes. One I cannot forbear to mention, 

 from the striking external resemblance of the effect to some of 

 those described in this Paper. I mean the motions described 

 by M. Amici in the sap of the chara, as originating in certain 

 rows of globules disposed in the direction of the stream. The 

 motion of the fluid in the vicinity of these globules has been 

 attributed by M. Amici himself to electricity developed in some 

 unknown manner by them, and is so similar to what takes place 

 when a stream of electricity is made to pass over a row of minute 

 globules of mercury under a conducting medium, that one has 

 difficulty not to presume an analogy in the causes. 



Slough, Jan. 6, 1824. J. F. W. HERSCHEL. 



NOTE. 



51. Since writing the above, Mr. Faraday has been so good 

 as to show me a Paper, published by M. Serrulas, in the Journal 

 de Physique for 1821 (vol. 93), in which are related one or two 

 of the appearances described in this Lecture, and other very 

 curious ones referrible to the same causes (though not apparently 

 regarded by him as being so). As the phenomena themselves 

 are interesting, and the theory of them adopted by him is (as I 

 shall easily show) insufficient, 1 shall be pardoned for extracting 

 the whole passage from his Memoir; regretting at the same 

 time not having been able to find a former Paper on the subject, 

 mentioned by him, in which his explanation is given at full 

 length. 



52. The phenomena in question relate to the singular gyra- 

 tory motions assumed bv alloys of potassium when floated in 

 small fragments on mercury under water. After noticing those 

 of the alloy of bismuth, which he describes as particularly forci- 

 ble and lasting, he goes on to say, 



53. " Ne seroit-il pas intcressant d'etudicr Taction electrique 

 qui se manifeste dans cette circonstance pendant l'oxidation du 

 potassium." — " Kile me semble digne d'attention pour sa liaison, 

 avec la decomposition de l'eau dont elle depend unique- 

 ment. * * * * 



54. " La pellicule M'gere qui se forme dans ce cas n'est que 

 Ifi bismuth divise provenant de Talliage retenant entre ses mole- 



