HYPOTHESIS OF TWO FLUIDS. 427 



In accordance with the hypothesis, that there 

 are two electric fluids which have a mutual at- 

 traction for each other, it has been maintained 

 by several writers on Natural Philosophy, that 

 when a cloud passes over a mountain, or any 

 other portion of the earth, it communicates to 

 the mountain, &c. the opposite electricity from 

 its own, when the two fluids attract each other, 

 producing a discharge of lightning. Such is the 

 mystic jargon of which this great and beautiful 

 science is composed at the present day. The 

 truth is, that, notwithstanding the many new 

 facts which have been discovered within the last 

 35 years, the theory of electricity is far more 

 unintelligible than it was left by Franklin, Can- 

 ton, Wilson, Beccaria, and Priestley; for they did 

 recognize the important fact, that all the attrac- 

 tions and repulsions produced by electricity are 

 owmg to its affinity for common matter, and 

 repulsion of its own particles. Many of its phe- 

 nomena are yet involved in profound obscurity. 

 We know not why it is, that when an insulated 

 oblong conductor is brought near to an electri- 

 fied body, the end nearest to it becomes nega- 

 tive, and the opposite end positive, while in the 

 centre there is no sign of electricity. We do not 

 comprehend clearly why a Leyden bottle cannot 

 be charged and discharged while insulated nor 

 why the electricity of a large battery, or of an 

 immense mass of aqueous vapour, becomes con- 



