488 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



component. What common understanding imagines to he unit, is divisible 

 to infinity ! 



Sir John Herschell — If the phenomena of chemistry are ever destined to 

 be reduced under the dominion of mathematical analysis, it will be, no 

 doubt, by a very circuitous and intricate route, in which at present we see 

 no glimpse of light ! 



Mr. Pell. — The mysterious agency of electricity is little understood, and 

 the establishment of facts is what we require, to gain an insight into the 

 wonderful workings of the subtle fluid. It is distributed through all sub- 

 stances, and lies entombed beneath their surfaces in a condition of rest ; nu- 

 merous causes at different periods may break up this state, producing an 

 excitement highly electrical, particularly when the fluid accumulates to 

 excess in some substances which are then positively electrified, while in 

 others it is deficient, and they are negatively electrified. All metals per- 

 mit electricity to pass through them very freely, and are called good con- 

 ductors. Some substances refuse it a ready passage, and are called non 

 conductors, as for example : silk, glass, air, &c. If you rob any of the 

 metals of their electricity, by presenting a good conductor to them, it flows 

 off very quietly. If a bad conductor is presented, it dashes impetuously 

 through it, producing light, fire, and not unfrequently a loud discharge. 

 The atmosphere is positively electrified in fine weather, but during rain or 

 snow falls, or in fact all storms, or fogs, it is negatively electrified. The 

 electricity of the air has an ebb and flow daily, corresponding with the tides 

 of the ocean, every twenty-four hours ; when it is clear, men are elastic, 

 gay and cheerful ; when in the opposite state, dull, cheerless and heavy. 

 We have all observed when it lightenings, the chain form is assumed, and 

 it traverses the sky in a zig zag direction ; this is because the temperature 

 of the atmosphere is different at the difterent points it meets in its course; 

 if the temperature was equable, it would traverse the heavens in a straight 

 line. There is invariably an overplus of positive electricity in the air, and 

 an excess of negative electricity in the earth, which gives rise to storms, 

 tornadoes, and other well known phenomena. All plants, in their contact 

 with the earth, are completely filled with negative electricity, and are pro- 

 bably in metallic communication with the ground. I believe electricity is 

 indispensable to the well being of all living vegetables and trees, and that 

 they constantly, when the weather is dry, draw it from the atmosphere, and 

 that without it their functions would be incomplete. I have examined 

 many apparently smooth leaves of plants with the microscope, and have always 

 found them covered with minute lightning rods, ever ready to attract elec- 

 tricity. If you make water slightly alkaline, it will become negatively 

 electrified, and acid positively. When water evaporates, from the earth, or 

 from a stream, it carries into the atmosphere with it any excess of electricity 

 that there may happen to be, which immediately becomes diffused in the 

 air, and is invariably positive electricity. As the decomposition of organic 

 substances and evaporation of water, are always at their maximum in the 

 hot season of the year, so at that period we have violent rain and thunder 



