192 



lines and that through glasses of different forms, 

 included one within the other, and large spaces between 

 them. 



Indeed the electric attraction through glass, is much 

 more powerful, when the glass is made warm : because 

 warm glass does not condense the water from the air, 

 which makes the glass a conductor of electricity : and 

 also because as heat enlarges the dimensions of all 

 known bodies, and consequently makes their constituent 

 parts recede from each other, the electric effluvia finds a 

 more easy passage through the pores. 



And electricity in common with light., when its forces 

 are collected, produces fire and flame. 



That the electric matter is far more subtle than air, 

 appears, from its passing through those bodies which air 

 cannot penetrate ; glass in particular. And that it is 

 elastic, appears from its increasing the motion of fluids, 

 and from its extending itself to a considerable distance 

 round excited bodies. 



Do not all these experiments shew, that the electric 

 matter is pure elementary fire, an original distinct prin- 

 ciple, formed by the Creator himself; and not as 

 some have apprehended, mechanically reducible from 

 other bodies I 



And may it not be doubted whether this be not the 

 only elastic body in the universe ? Whether it be not 

 the original spring, which commHnicates elasticity to 

 all other elastic bodies ? To the air in particular : 

 which is elastic no longer, when detached from elec- 

 tric fire, fcut commences Jlxed and unelastic ; and seem.s 

 to recover its elasticity, only by recovering that ethereal 

 fire which had been violently separated from it. 



Scarce any phenomenon in nature has been esteemed 

 more difficult to be accounted for, than those luminous 

 appearances in the sky, termed Aurora Boreulis, or nor- 

 thern lights. But these also may be rationally explained 

 upon the principles of electricity. We often see clouds 

 at different heights, passing different ways, north and 

 south at the same time. This manifestly proves different 



