134 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1745. 



from the glass tube, and disposes it to electrify whatever non-electrical bodies re- 

 ceive the effluvia from the tube. 



2dly, That water is a non-electric, and of consequence a conductor of electri- 

 city. This is exemplified by a jet of water being attracted by the tube, from 

 either electrics per se conducting electricity^ and non-electrics more readily when 

 wetted ; but what is more, if you only blow through a dry glass tube, the moisture 

 from the breath will cause that tube to be a conductor of electricity. 



These being premised, in proportion as the air is replete with watery vapours, 

 the electricity arising from the tube, instead of being conducted, as proposed, is, 

 by means of these vapours, communicated to the circumambient atmosphere, and 

 dissipated as fast as excited. 



This theory has been confirmed by divers experiments, but by none more re- 

 markably than on the evening of the day Mr. W. made those before mentioned ; 

 when the vapours, which in the afternoon, by the sun's heat, and a brisk gale, 

 were dissipated, and the air perfectly dry, descended again in great plenty, on 

 the absence of both, and in the evening was very damp. For between 7 and 8 

 o'clock, he attempted again the same experiments in the same manner, without 

 being able to make any of them succeed. 



Mr. W. remarks, that no inflammable substance will take fire, when brought 

 into or near the contact of electrics per se excited to electricity. This eflfect must 

 be produced by non -electrical substances, impregnated with electricity received 

 from the exciting electrics per se. 



1st, Mr. W. supposes that inflammable substances are fired by the attractive 

 power of electricity, when this effect arises from their being brought near excited 

 non-electrics. 



2dly, That inflammable svibstances are fired by the repulsive power of electricity; 

 when it happens, that the inflammable substances, being first electrified them- 

 selves, are fired by being brought near non-electrics not excited. 



This matter will be better illustrated by an example. Suppose that either a 

 man standing on a cake of wax, or a sword suspended in silk lines, are elec- 

 trified, and the spirit, being brought near them, is fired, this is said to be per- 

 formed by the attractive power of electricity. But if the man electrified, as 

 before, holds a spoon in his hand containing the spirit, or the same spoon and 

 spirit are placed on the sword, and a person not electrified applies his finger 

 near the spoon, and the spirit is fired from the flame arising from the spoon and 

 spirit on such application, this he calls being fired by the repulsive power. Of 

 the two-mentioned kinds he generally finds the repulsive power strongest. 



Mr. W. has fired the spirit both by the attractive and repulsive power, through 

 4 persons standing on electrical cakes, each communicating with the other, 

 either by means of a walking-cane, a sword, or any other non-electric substance. 



