OR VOLTAIC ELECTRICITY. 367 



are combined with each other by what he calls 

 " the reciprocal attraction of imponderables." 

 He supposed that when two or more large 

 plates were employed, caloric predominated; 

 but that when a large number of small plates 

 were used, electricity predominated. One thing 

 is certain, that the character of the galvanic 

 fluid is modified by every variation in the size 

 and number of the plates composing the battery. 

 But if we suppose that caloric is combined with 

 galvanic electricity, because it fuses and ignites 

 metals, or other bodies, we shall be forced to 

 admit that it is also a constituent portion of 

 common electricity, for it fuses and ignites 

 bodies like voltaic electricity. He further sup- 

 poses, that " electricity fuses and ignites metals, 

 &c. by combining with their latent caloric ; thus 

 augmenting its repulsive agency, and causing it 

 to overcome their cohesion." But he omits the 

 important fact, that electricity also increases their 

 temperature, and that its former properties are 

 changed and merged into those of caloric, as it 

 fuses and ignites bodies. 



The unavoidable conclusion from the above 

 facts is, that caloric and electricity are only 

 different forms of the same elementary agent, 

 varied by the numerous modes of its separation 

 from ponderable matter : or, that there are two 

 distinct and universal agents combined with 

 ponderable matter, and with each other, "by the 



