ELECTRICITY 



ted * ELECTRICITY. 



WITHOUT further reference to the contentions that have ex- 

 isted on the suhject of the systems of electricity, I shall premise, 

 that I consider that electricity is exhibited by the application of 

 means through the medium of friction, to produce a separation 

 of the original elements which are combined in the compound 

 molecules of light. That in producing the decomposition of 

 light, whether by those means of friction, by the common elec- 

 trical machine, or through the exercise of the Voltaic apparatus, 

 the same separation is effected. What is called the positive 

 electricity in the one case, coming to the one pole, whilst the 

 negative proceeds to the other ; the difference being simply, that 

 in the galvanic arrangement the supply of the electricities is 

 continuous and compensating, w r hile with the common electrical 

 machine either of the electricities, positive or negative, can be 

 collected in a battery or jar, in a state of aggregation for a 

 given period, and that the separated and compensating portion, 

 from which the collected quantity has been abstracted, is evi- 

 dently contiguous and ready to be united by the effect of a dis- 

 charging rod, or any convenient conductor applied for such 

 purpose. 



When two bodies in opposite states of electricity are pre- 

 sented to each other, at .a distance commensurate with the 

 forces of attraction exercised by both, they come in contact and 

 continue so for a short period, when they are found mutually to 

 repel each other. 



These phenomena may be accounted for thus : That (we 

 will say,) two balls suspended, and by being electrified, pos- 

 sessing the separated constituents of light, on approaching each 

 other, those constituents exercise an attractive power, sufficient 

 to cause them to reunite and form light, which then becomes 

 occult, and pervading the balls to repletion, afford to them the 



