Self-susiaining Voliaic Battery. 55 
begins to show itself, until it becomes very copious in a nearly 
saturated solution. The supposition I have made is, that the de- 
position is effected by the conjunction of the attraction with the 
current or electrical tension; consequently the deposition can 
only take place when the tension is so high that the addition of 
the attraction enables it to overcome the affinity. This exactly 
conforms to the conditions; the good conducting sulphate of hy- 
trogen being removed, the bad conducting solution of zine will 
cause the tension to rise. I cannot now go into the discussion 
of the specific weights of the elements of the two electrolytes, 
to show that the attraction will act in the same. direction with 
the electric tension. It is at once evident that if we admit that 
the hydrogen atom, the disturbed aggregation should extend 
much deeper into the plate for destroying the attraction for the 
zinc than is merely required for preventing the adhesion of the 
gas. On these principles I have made the conducting plate, with 
the disintegrated stgte of the surface extended to the greatest 
depth admitting of the requisite mechanical durability, for which 
the plate is electro-plated to the beginning of roughness before 
putting on the coating of platinum. 
I have sought to describe the peculiarities of this battery, by 
exhibiting the actions of the various parts, and the principles 
Which guide me in their construction. ‘These principles, I ac- 
knowledge, are new in their application to the galvanic phenom- 
ena. Ihave only to say for them, that they are the acknowl- 
edged Principles of matter and motion, and consequently the 
now t 
thousand atmospheres on spongy platinum; and does not geome- 
try show us that if the disintegrated mass attract thus strongly, 
the solid surface will attract enormously? and if oxygen is so 
Strongly attracted by the solid surface, then why may it not at- 
tract hydrogen, which is only sixteen times lighter, sufficiently 
to condense a layer which the battery liquid cannot displace be- 
Cause it is denser than the liquid? I must here ask that I may 
Not be misunderstood by supposing that I refer to the bubbles of 
84S which adhere to smooth surfaces by oe peinewneDs 
Te: geometry, indeed, shows us that these bubbles are dis- 
Persed by sett AR nt ‘but it also shows that these bubbles 
