WledJianical Philosoplii} . 27 



^attractions and repulsions of each might be reduced 

 to regular and similar classes, he attempted to 

 throw the laws of both into a perfectly systematic 

 form, and to introduce the most precise mathema- 

 tical calculations into regions which were before 

 supposed, from their indefinite and mysterious cha- 

 Tacter, least of all susceptible of being explored in 

 this manner. It is believed by many, that this hy- 

 pothesis, to the unquestionable claim of ingenuity^ 

 adds that of being founded in truth; and that 

 it will probably lead to the solution of .many diffi- 

 culties, hitherto deemed insolvable, •Hov^'-ever 

 this rnay be, it must be confessed the ingenious 

 'Russian has enabled us, by his mathematical prin^ 

 -ciples, to cla^s many of the phenomena of which 

 lie treats, with a most plausible precision, and to 

 predict the result of proposed experiments with 

 very pleasing success.' 



During the last thirty years of the eighteenth 

 century, though it cannot be said that so much has 

 been done in electricity as in the like period im- 

 mediately preceding; yet several important disco- 

 veries, within that time, have been announced. 

 The inventions of the Electrophorm, and the Co«- 

 ^d'?z5'6'r by professor Volt A, and of the Doiihler oi 

 electricity, by the Rev. Mr. Bennet, of Great- 

 Britain ; the discovery of the effects produced by 

 the electric matter on permanently elastic fluids, 

 and on water, by Mr. Cavendisii, and others; 

 and the correction of former errors, with respect 

 to the influence ofelectricity on vegetables, by Dr. 

 Ingenhouz, may be considered among the most 

 interesting of recent improvements.-' Mr. Caven- 



i See Theorla Eledrtcttatis et Magnefismiy 1759, Petersburgh, 4to. See 

 ■also a good abstract of the doctrines of jEpinus, in the Supplement to the Eti' 

 cyclopadia, published at Philadelphia by Mr. Dobson. 



j For a more full account of the above recent discoveries and improve- 

 «iients, see the last vol. of Cavallo% Electricity, 3 vols. 8vo. edition I79J. 

 ^nd the art. Eledricit^ in the Enc^clo^adia^ and the Supplements 



