LECTURE VIII. 



EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY. 



ELECTRICITr. 



IP the electrical fluid is not caloric, or the matter 

 of fire, it resembles that element in so many of 

 its phsenomena and effects, that there is reason to 

 believe it a combination of it with some other 

 substance. But of the nature of that combina- 

 tion we are at present ignorant. To mortify the 

 pride of man, philosophy leaves some things 

 unexplained : the really ignorant are those who 

 think they can penetrate into every secret of 

 nature ; whereas the truly wise will see that there 

 is much placed out of the reach of human com- 

 prehension, and many things yet left to be disco- 

 vered by the industry and the patience of man. 



The electric matter resembles caloric or fire 

 in its most usual effects, the power of igniting or 

 setting on fire inflammable bodies; in melting 

 metals; in the emission of light; and in the 

 velocity of the electric spark. Friction, which 

 is known to produce heat and fire, is also the 

 most powerful means of exciting electricity; 

 heat also extends itself most rapidly in humid 

 bodies and metals, and these are the best con- 

 ductors of electricity ; and as caloric is the most 



