78 APPENDIX. 



various galvanic processes, have been lately, very closely marked and reduced even ta 

 precise calculation. From among these we may adopt the following general law, which 

 has been clearly established by M. Biot, namely ; tiiat each of the two electrical princi- 

 ples is a fluid, -whose particles, perfectly moveable, mutually repel each other, and attract those 

 of the other principle, -with forces reciprocal as the square of the distance. JHso at equal dis- 

 tances the attractive power is equal to the repulsive." 



This, therefore, being an established law which characterizes the actions of these fluids, 

 is it not reasonable to explain the material phenomena of the universe by its assistance, 

 especially when sucli an explanation may be conducted in accordance with the known 

 laws of matter, and supported by the conviction that the atoms of every material sub- 

 stance possess certain electrical states ? 



Another very important law which regards the electric fluids, chiefly with respect to 

 the atoms of matter with which they are associated, must not be overlooked : viz. " that 

 a mutual attraction exists between tixe electric fluid and all material substances, when 

 they are in their natural state of electricity." Hut this is a mere extension of the for- 

 mer law as regards the connexion of these fluids, with the atoms of matter, and is en- 

 tirely the result of the electrical influence with which these atoms are endowed, as we 

 can have no idea of matter devoid of its natural electricity. 



Proceeding, therefore, upon the established laws of electricity, and upon these which 

 it is presumed, the particles of matter obey, it may be concluded that the cohesion 

 which exists between the atoms of unorganized substances, results from the attraction 

 existing between the opposite electricities. Whether we conceive the particles of 

 matter to exist innately endowed with certain electrical states, or surrounded with one 

 or other of these fluids, according to their reciprocal affinity, still the attraction be- 

 tween the atoms of matter must be equally the result of opposite states of this univer- 

 sally diffused agent. 



But it may be contended, that as the particles of matter mutually repel each other, 

 they, therefore, are either altogether devoid of any kind of electrical influence, or are 

 endowed with the property of mutual repulsion, which they exert notwithstanding the 

 electrical agency. But this objection is by no means valid, for it may be shown that, 

 even granting them to possess the property of mutual repulsion, the supposition is fa- 

 vourable to the theory, and serves, moreover, to account for the varied phenomena to 

 which the different particles of matter and the electrical fluids give rise. 



As, however, we have just supposed that the attraction of matter results from the 

 atoms being endowed with the opposite suite of electricity, it is as reasonable to sup- 

 pose, that an opposite condition to attraction must take place when homogeneous par- 

 ticles, or those possessing the same kind of electrical energy, are brought within the 

 sphere of action. 



From this consideration we are led to the conclusion that attraction and repulsion be- 

 tween the particles of matter arise as a necessary consequence of the electrical states 

 of these particles. The various anomalies or peculiar conditions of material substan- 

 ces can be easily supposed to result from certain degrees of electrical saturation, or 

 neutralization to which these substances are subjected. 



From the consideration of corpuscular attraction and repulsion, the transition to che- 

 mical affinity becomes evident. 



It may be shown by direct experiment, that repulsion, can be produced between two 

 bodies, by giving one of them an electrical state different from that which it naturally 

 possesses; t:--at is, by bringing it artificially into a condition similar to the other; so 

 chemical attraction between two bodies may be increased by exalting the energy of 

 the electrical states which they naturally possess. 



As chemical affinities are the result of attraction or repulsion between the particles 

 of matter, owing to their electrical conditions, so these affinities will be simple or com- 

 pound, according to the electric states of the different materials which are brought into 

 mutual action, and according to the various energies of these states. 



Having endeavoured to establish the proposition of different material atoms possess- 

 ing different electrical states, both as regards its negative or positive modes of exist- 

 ence, and as respects the energy of each, and having considered such relations suffici- 

 ent to account for the phenomena of repulsion and gravitation, it becomes unnecessary 

 to point the application of the cicctrine to the various chemical changes which take 

 place. However, that such changes actually do occur, after the manner which a priori 

 reasoning would lead us to expect, is a general inference which presents but very few 

 exceptions. But our knowledge respecting the abstract state of these substances 

 which present the presumed exceptions are> as yet so very imperfect, that no con- 

 clusive argument can be adduced that their chemical combination is not the result of 



