185 



with the particles of which the original fire is closely 

 incorporated. Dry air seems to be so fully saturated 

 with it, that it is scarce capable of receiving any more ; 

 whereas ail new-collected tire is continually endeavour- 

 ing to return into the earth. Let wires be electrified 

 ever so strongly, yet the moment any part of them is 

 touched by a person standing on the floor, they are 

 electrified no longer ; all the tire escaping through him 

 into the earth. 



Upon the principles of electricity we may give a more 

 rational account of many appearances in nature than 

 has yet been done : of thunder and lightning in par- 

 ticular. In order to which we may observe, all elec- 

 trified bodies retain the fire thrown into them, till some 

 non-electric approaches : to which it is then communi- 

 cated with a snap, and becomes equally divided.- 

 Electric rire is strongly attracted by water, and readily 

 mixes with it. And water being electrified, the vapours 

 arising from it are equally electrified. As these float in 

 the air, they retain the additional tire till they meet with 

 clouds not so much electrified ; then they communicate 

 it with a shock. 



The ocean is compounded of water and salt> one an 

 electric, the other not. When there is a friction among 

 the parts near its surface, the fire is collected from the 

 parts below. It is then plainly visible in the night, at 

 the stern of every sailing vessel. It appears from every 

 dash of an oar : in storms the whole sea seems on fira. 

 The particles of water then repelled from the electrified 

 surface continually carry off" the fire as it is collected. 

 They rise and form clouds which are highly electrified, 

 and retain the lire till they have aa opportunity of dis* 

 charging it. 



Particles of water rising in vapours attach themselves 

 to particles of air. One particle of air may be sur- 

 rounded by twelve particles of water as large as itself, 

 sli touching it, and b- more added to them. Particles 



