Chap. 2.] [ 307 ] 



CHAP. II. 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRICITY. 



Analogy between Caloric, or Fire, and the e leEirical Fluid. The Argu* 

 ments on the contrary Side. Conjectures concerning the Nature oj* 

 this Fluid. Means of producing elefirical Phenomena.' Condu^iors 

 and Non-ccnduffon.Inftruments employed in Eleftricity. 



FROM the brief account, which has been given, in 

 the preceding chapter, of difcoveries relative to 

 this branch of fcience, the reader will be in a confi- 

 derable degree prepared to infer, that electricity is the 

 action of a body put in a (late to attract of repel light 

 bodies placed at a certain diftancej to give a flight 

 fenfation to the Ikin, refembling in fome meafure that 

 which we experience in meeting with a cobweb in the 

 air j to fpread an odour like the phofphorus of Kun- 

 kell ; to dart pencils of light from the furface, attend- 

 ed with a fnapping noife, on the approach of certain 

 fubftances ; laftly, that the body put in this flate is ca- 

 pable of communicating to other bodies the power o* 

 producing the fame effects during a certain time. 



The electric power is indubitably the effect of fome 

 matter put in motion, either within or round the elec- 

 trified body, fmce if we place either our hands or face 

 before an excited tube of glafs, or before an infulated 

 conductor which is electrified, we fhall perceive ema- 

 nations fenfible to the touch, and if we approach 

 nearer, we (hall feel it diftinctly, and hear a weak noife j 

 in the dark we perceive fparks of vivid light, efpecially 

 from angular points j we fee emitted pencils of rays, 

 X 2 or 



