'5 



Experiments on the Charges of Bodies 



connected by canals of incompressible fluid, but is also a strong confirma- 

 tion of the truth of the theory. Now this appears to be the case, for, 

 first the charge of a tin plate was found to be nearly, though not quite, 

 the same in whatever part it was touched by the electrifying wire, or in 

 whatever direction it was placed in respect of the jar by which it was 

 electrified. Secondly, the charge of a single plate or wire was found to 

 bear nearly, though, in the first case, I believe, not quite the same pro- 

 portion to two similar plates or wires of half the diameter or length which 

 it ought to do according to computation. Thirdly, the proportion which 

 the charges of a thin circular plate and of three cylindrical bodies of 

 different lengths and diameters bear to that of a globe agree with com- 

 putation; but it must be observed that, as the proportion of the charges 

 of the bodies to that of the globe is determined by the theory within only 

 very wide limits, their agreement cannot be looked upon as so great a 

 confirmation of the theory as it would otherwise be, yet as their shapes 

 are so very different I think that their agreement, even within those 

 limits, may be considered as a considerable confirmation of it. 





