Chap, i.] Nature of the eleftric Matter. 303 



another improvement, that of forming what is called 

 the electric battery, by increafing the number of phials, 

 by which means the force is proportionably increafed. 

 By thefe means the electric Ihock was tried upon the 

 brute creation, and proved fatal to many of the fmaller 

 animals, which appeared as if killed by lightning. By 

 thefe means alfo the electric matter was conveyed to 

 great diftances ; by the French philofophers, for near 

 three miles ; and by Dr. Watfon, and fome other 

 members of the Royal Society, it was conveyed, by 

 a wire, over the river Thames, and back again through 

 the river, and fpirits were kindled by the electric fire, 

 which had paffed through the river. In another expe- 

 riment by the fame gentleman, it was found that the 

 electric matter made a circuit of about four miles 

 almoft inftantaneoufly. 



The next difcovery refpects the nature, or rather 

 the origin, of the eleclric matter. Dr. Watfon was 

 firft induced to fufpect that the gkfs tubes and globes 

 did not contain the electric power in themfelves, by 

 obferving, that upon rubbing the glafs tube while he 

 was (landing on cakes of wax (in order to prevent, as 

 he expected, any of the electric matter from difcharg- 

 ing itfelf through his body on the floor) the power 

 was fo much leffened that no lhapping could be ob- 

 ferved upon another perfon's touching any part of his 

 body j but that if a perfon not electrified held his hand 

 near the tube while it was rubbed, the fnapping was 

 very fenfibie. The event was the fame when the 

 globe was whirled in fimilar circumftances j for if the 

 man who turned the wheel, and who, together with 

 the machine, was fufpended upon filk, touched the 

 floor with one foot, the fire appeared upon the con- 

 ductor j but if he kept himfelf free from any commu- 

 nication with the floor, no fire was produced. From 



thefe 



