Additional Xotes. S^!j 



(.o be supposed, belong Symmer, Eeles, Cisjna, Adams, Ciithbcrt- 

 «on, Darwin, Brooke, and several oi\w\- distinguished writers on 

 4his subject. 



Tiiose who adopt the opinion tliat there, are u.o clcctvic fluids, 

 are, however, by no nicans agreed among themselves. Some, as 

 Syiumer, Eeles, Adams, c\:c., believe in two fluids, which operate 

 on each other, and on other bodies, upon mediunical principles. 

 They suppose that these are two distinct, positive, and active 

 powers, which equally and strongly attract and condense each 

 other j .that they exist together in all bodies, in tlieir natural state,* 

 conjoined j but that their electric signs, or what we call electricity, 

 only become sensible in consequence of the separation of these 

 two powers. That, w^hile united, they are latent and invisible j 

 but when separated they become immediately visible and active. 

 These two fluids or powers are called Vitreous and Resinous elcc- 

 tiucities. — See Eeles's Philosophicai Essays, 1/7 ^> and Adams's 

 Lectures. 



There are others who explain the phenomena of electricity 

 upon cheinical principles. They also belie\e in the existence of 

 two distinct and positive fluids J but instead of a mechanical o^q- 

 ration, they consider all their sensible elfects as arising from che- 

 mical affinity and union. The following tlieory of Dr. Darwin 

 may serve as a specimen of chemical electricity. — See Temple of 

 Nature, Additional Notes, p. 40\ 4to. Lond. 1803. 



1. There are two kinds of electric ether, whieh exist either 

 separately or in combination. That wdiich is accumulated on the 

 surface of smooth glass, when rubbed with a cushion, is here 

 termed vitreous ether ; and that which is accumulated on the sur- 

 face of resin, or sealing-wax, w-hen rubbed in like manner, is here 

 termed resinous ether : and a combination of them, as in their 

 iisusl state, may be ternied neutral electric ethers. 



2. Atmospheres of vitreous, or of reshious, or of neutral elec- 

 tricity, surround all separate bodies, are attracted by them, and 

 permeate those which are called conductors, as metallic, aqueous, 

 ^nd carbonic substances ; but will not permeate those which are 

 called nonconductors, as air, glass, silk, resin, sulphur. 



3. The particles of vitreous ether stiongly repel each other, 

 but attract the particles of resinous ether, and via: lersd. When 

 the two electric ethers unite, a chemical explosion occurs, in some 

 respects like that of gunpowder, light and hc^at are lil)erated, and 

 rend or fu-e the bodies which they occupy. 



4. Glass holds within It, in combination, much resinous elec- 

 VoL. I. 2 C 



