LESSON XXT. 



ON ELECTRICITY. 



Electricity possesses much of what is admirably adapted U 



discipline the mind Let your resolutions then be 



formed to study it, as a science in all its tendencies favour- 

 able to the general interest of knowledge, and to your own 

 particular improvement. MORGAN. 



JjEFORE I attempt to explain to you the nature 

 of Thunder-storms, which will be the business of 

 the next Lesson, it may be advantageous to appro- 

 priate a few pages to the subject of Electricity, as 

 it will tend to elucidate what may be said relative 

 o these phsenomena. 



Electricity (derived from the Greek name for 

 amber) is that power or property, which was first 

 observed in amber, and which sealing-wax, glass, 

 and a variety of other substances, called Electrics, 

 are known to possess, of attracting light bodies, 

 such as chaff, fine thread, and bits of straw, when 

 xcited by heat or friction : and which is also 

 capable of being communicated in particular cir- 

 cumstances to other bodies. The term is also, 

 often, more extensively applied to all other similar 

 powers or properties, and their various effects, in 



whatever- 



