On Electric Phenomena. 5 



Tbution of electric fluid, friction takes the first place. If we 

 rub a stick of sealing-wax witli a piece of woollen cloth, and 

 then touch with the sealing-wax a light little ball made of 

 the pith of the elder-tree and suspended by a silken-thread, 

 we shall find, that the ball is at first attracted by the sealing- 

 wax, but as soon as it conies in contact with it, it is quickly 

 repelled. It is evident, that this last repulsion can only be 

 caused by the fact, that the stick of sealing-wax has imparted 

 to the baU a small part of that electricity, which has been 

 excited by friction, and that now the state of electricity in 

 the sealing-wax and the little ball being similar, they reci- 

 procally repulse each other. As the ball is very light and 

 hangs quite free, the electric fluid carries with it the material 

 particles to which it adheres, and thus, the repulsion, which 

 takes place between the invisible electric fluids becomes per- 

 ceptible to us through the movement of the visible substance. 

 If we now rub a piece of glass and touch with it a 

 second ball hung up in a similar manner, and of the same 

 kind as the before-mentioned, we attain just the same result. 

 The piece of glass becomes electric through friction; it also 

 imparts to the baU through contact a portion of its electricity 

 and the electricity of a similar kind contained in the glass 

 and the ball, repulse one another. If we now bring the piece 

 of glass in contact with the ball, which was first touched with 

 the sealing-wax, it wiU be attracted by it, and likewise, the 

 ball, which was first touched by the piece of glass, will be 

 attracted by the seaHng-wax. "We conclude therefrom, that 

 the electricity, which was excited in the glass and the sealing- 

 wax, are of a different kiud, and we call that excited in the 

 glass positive or vitreous electricity^ and that in the sealing- 

 wax, negative or resinous electricity. Indeed, the electricity 



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