THE ELECTRIC ELEMENT. 8fr 



men ? Can an element such as we must suppose ether 

 to be lie dormant in the innermost interstices of 

 matter, while the smallest change of condition, even 

 the simple opposition of different bodies, awakens 

 another power within them into life and energy ? Is 

 it probable, or possible, that two distinct elements 

 should co-exist in the same space, with separate rela- 

 tions to the matter thus closely environing them? 

 Allowing much for our ignorance of matter in its 

 infinitesimal parts, can we suppose two agents thus 

 energetic pervading these parts, yet independent in 

 nature and action ? I put these points interrogatively; 

 but they are surely such as may well sanction hypo- 

 thesis in default of any more absolute answer to the 

 question, ' What is Electricity ? ' 



For, in truth, no theory yet propounded can go 

 further to satisfy the very difficult conditions of the 

 problem. Look cursorily at the phenomena which 

 this wonderful element of electricity brings before us 

 its various modes of evolution, including that by induc- 

 tion its opposed conditions of positive and negative 

 electricity its manner and velocity of conduction its 

 connexion with magnetic phenomena in all their 

 aspects its presence, either as cause or effect, in all 

 that we term chemical action its relation to vital 

 functions -its agency in all meteorological changes- 

 and its connexion by exact equivalents of power with 

 the other great forces of the natural world. These 

 various phenomena concentrate themselves under the 

 same single question, ' What is Electricity ? ' 



Science, as we see, has hitherto given no certain 



