3S6 Additional Notes. 



trie ether, ■tt-Lich constitutes a part of it, and which more forclbijr 

 attracts vitreous electric ether from surrounding bodies, which 

 stands on it, mixed with a less proportion of resinous ether, like 

 an atmosphere, but cannot unite with the resinous ether com- 

 bTned v ith the glass. And resin, on the contrary', holds within 

 it, in combination, much vitreous electric ether, which constimtes a 

 part of it, and which more forcibly attracts resinous electric ethei 

 n-om surrounding bodies, which stands on it, mixed with a les3 

 proportion of vitreous ether, like an atmosphere, but cannot unite 

 with the vitreous ether which is combined with the resin. 



5. Hence the nonconductors of electricity are of two kinds, 

 and opposite to each other j the one class the vitreous, the other 

 ,the resinous. But the most perfect conductors, such as metal, 

 w'ater, and charcoal, having neither kind of electric ether cofubined 

 xvith them, though surroimdtd with both, suffer both kinds to pass 

 through tliem easily. 



6. Great accumulation or condensation of the separate electric 

 ethers attract each other so strongly, that they will break a passage 

 throu'jch nonconducting; bodies. Hence trees and stone walls are 

 rent by lightning. 



7. When artiricial or natural accumulations of these separate 

 ethers are in very small quantity or intensity, they pass slowly, 

 and with ditficulty, from one body to another, and require the 

 best conductors for this purpose. Whence many of the pheno- 

 mena of the Toi'pcdo, or Gyytmotus, and of Galvanism. 



8. The electric ethers may be separately accumulated by the 

 contact of conductors with nonconductors — by vicinity of the 

 two ethers — ^by heat — and by decomposition. 



9. When these two etJiers unite suddenly, and with explosion, 

 a liberation of light and heat takes place, as in all chemical explo- 

 sions. Accordingly it is said that a smdl is perceptible from elec- 

 tric sparks, and even a tnate, which must be supposed to arise 

 from new combinations or decompositions. 



The theory founded on the principles above stated is supposed, 

 by those who adopt it, to solve many difficulties which can 

 scarcely be accounted for on the theory of Franklin. To say that 

 the former inode of accounting for the electrical phenomena will 

 prcjbably be found the true one, would be, in the present state of 

 oar kno\^ ledge, to pronounce rashly ; but if this subject should 

 ever be developed, it will probably be found that Electricity ought 

 to be considered as a branch of Chemistry ; that its phenomena re- 

 tail from the union of two substances, by the cJieiuical combina- 



