Atmosphere. 95 



sible ; and all that we know on this sub- 

 ject is that the electric fluid pervades the 

 atmosphere ; that it appears to be more 

 abundant in the superior than the inferior 

 regions ; that it seems to be the imme- 

 diate bond of connection between the at- 

 mosphere and the water which is suspen- 

 ded in it ; and that, by its various opera- 

 tions, the phenomena of the meteors are 

 occasioned. 



It is the opinion of the most celebrated 

 philosophers of the present day, that the 

 electric fluid is no other than the light of 

 the sun ; that it issues from that lumina- 

 ry in the pure state of electricity, that 

 joining the particles of our atmosphere, it 

 becomes light, and uniting with the gros- 

 ser earth Jire. The evaporation of wa- 

 ter is attended with an absorption of this 

 fluid from the 'surface of our globe, and, 

 on the other hand, the conversion of 

 steam into water, is attended with a de- 

 position of this subtle fluid ; so that there 

 is a circulation in the electric fluid as 

 there is in the water. It descends origin- 

 ally from the sun ; pervades the whole 

 srubstance of the globe ; and perspiring, 

 as it were, at every pore, ascends beyond 



