Chap, i.] [ 297 ] 



BOOK IV. 



OF ELECTRICITT. 



CHAP. I. 



HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES RELATIVE TO 

 ELECTRICITY. 



Origin of the Name.- Ho-tv far Eleflricity f was known to the An- 

 tients.Mr. Boyle. Otto Guericke.-~Dr. Wall Mr, Hawk/bse. 

 Mr, Grey's Difco c ueries. M. Du Fay's. Subfequent Difcweries tf 

 Mr, Grey. Improvements of German Philofophers. -Ley den Phial, 

 Eleflrical Buttery. -Spirits fired by EleSricity conduced through 

 the River Thames.'. Tnv-j Species of Eleflricity dif.o*vsred.Dr. 

 Franklin's great Difccveries. 



TH E attractive power which amber, and other 

 electric bodies, acquire by friction, was long 

 known to philofophers ; jind it is almoftunneceflary 

 to remark, that this branch of fcience derives its name 

 from Af>c7pov (electron) the Greek word for amber. 

 The ther electric properties were {lowly difcovered. 

 Mr. Boyle was the firft who had a glimpfe of the 

 electric light ; as he remarked, after rubbing fome 

 diamonds in order to give them the power of attrac- 

 tion, that they afforded light in the dark. 



Otto Guericke, burgomailer of Madgeburg, made 

 an electric globe of fulphur, and by whirling it about 

 in a wooden frame, and rubbing it at the fame time 

 with his hand, he performed various electrical expe- 

 riments. 



