34(j I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1739. 



we can give poles to little parts ; or rather bring into a particular situation the 

 poles which they have; for if the poles that we have considered be placed 

 quite irregularly, there will be no elasticity at all. Agreeably to this, springs 

 may be made of other metals than iron or steel, though not so perfect, by 

 hammering ; for it will be sufficient for the little particles to have poles that 

 attract and repel one another, driven by the hammering into a regular order. 



This, applied to the vibration of a string, will better solve its several cases, 

 than attraction alone; and the elasticity of glass is just the same as that of a 

 very brittle steel -spring. 



Some Thoughts and Experiments concerning Electricity. By J, T. Desagu- 

 liers, LL. D. F. R. S. N° 454, p. 186. 



The phaenomena of electricity are so odd, that though we have a great 

 many experiments on that subject; we have pot yet been able from their com- 

 parison to settle such a theory, as to lead us to the cause of that property of 

 bodies, or even to judge of all its effects, or find out what useful influence 

 electricity has in nature : though certainly, from what we have seen of it, we 

 may conjecture, that it must be of great use, because it is so extensive. 



Though some persons have been too hasty in their conjectures, and too apt 

 to run into hypotheses not sufficiently supported by experiments; yet it would 

 be of great use to settle some general propositions concerning electricity, from 

 the light we have already, and what we may further discover by future experi- 

 ments ; provided we have a sufficient number of them to settle a general rule. 

 For example ; I now propose some general assertions to be considered, and to 

 be rejected or allowed of, as a number of experiments shall determine; but to 

 stand only as queries till they are settled. 



I have hitherto avoided entertaining the Society on this subject, or pursuing 

 it so far as I might have done, considering that I can excite as strong an elec- 

 tricity in glass, by rubbing it with my hand, as any body can, because I was 

 unwilling to interfere with the late Mr. Stephen Gray, who had wholly turned 

 his thoughts that way ; but was disposed to decline it entirely, if he imagined 

 that any thing was done in opposition to him. But now I intend not only to 

 go on myself in making electrical experiments, but shall always be ready to 

 make such as shall be proposed by any member of the Society. The Queries 

 which I have already examined, are the following : 



Query 1 . Whether all bodies in general are not capable of receiving the 

 electricity which has been given to a tube by friction, though there be a great 

 many bodies, such as metals and vegetables, &c. in which we have not hitherto 



