108 THEORY OF GALVANISM. 



surrounding bodies ; and others to its containing a 

 greater or less portion of caloric. For the present, 

 we must rest satisfied with admitting the fact of 

 the low intensity, as manifested by the phenomena, 

 without being able to explain its cause ; and we 

 may next proceed to inquire, whether there be any 

 circumstances in the different methods of exciting 

 or producing electricity, by the machine or the pile 

 respectively, which should cause the first to deve- 

 lop the fluid in a higher, and the latter in a lower 

 state of intensity. 



Electricity 'And here, it must be confessed, we have little to 

 by the ma- direct our inquiries but conjecture and uncertain 

 analogy. Of these, however, as being our only 

 guides, we must make the best use that lies in em- 

 power. It is generally agreed, that all bodies pos- 

 sess a certain quantity of electricity, which is said 

 to be natural to them, and which, while it remains 

 undisturbed, manifests no indications of its exist- 

 ence. There are many processes which alter 

 the state of this natural electricity, by which it 

 is extricated from one body, and may be trans- 

 ferred to others in the neighbourhood. But this 

 additional portion, being more than their natural 

 share, seems to be retained by them with difficulty, 

 and is ready to fly off in all directions, in order to 

 restore the equilibrium. This may be considered 

 as descriptive of what occurs in the operation of 

 the common electrical machine, where, by the fric- 

 tion of the rubber against the cylinder, a portion 

 of the electric fluid is carried off from one or both 



