Hare on Electricity. 10^ 



made divergent, in pleno or in vacuo, in a small vessel, will 

 cease to be affected by a like influence, if suspended in an 

 exhausted receiver sufficiently large. 1 am aware, that the 

 air prevents the electric fluid from escaping, by its insulating 

 power, and that when it is removed, electrometrical leaves 

 cannot be sustained in a state of excitement much higher 

 than the rare medium about them. Thus situated it may be 

 alleged, that repulsion can no more act between them, to 

 produce separation, than it does without them to keep them 

 together. But this reasoning would apply, equally, whether 

 they be in a large, or a small receiver; and, of course, does 

 not account for the influence which the size of the receiver 

 has on the divergency. 



I will now adduce some additional facts and arguments, 

 in opposition to the doctrine of two fluids. 



According to Franklin, positive and negative, as applied 

 to electricity,, merely designate relative states of the same 

 fluid. If, of three bodies, the first have more electricity 

 than the second, and less than the third, it will be positive 

 with respect to the second, and negative with respect to the 

 third. According to Du Faye, there is a radical difference 

 between vitreous and resinous electricity ; and though sep- 

 arately exercising intense action, they neutralize each other 

 by union. It is universally admitted, that the fluid evolved 

 by the prime conductor of a glass cylinder machine, and 

 that evolved by the cushion, are of different kinds or states. 

 According to the American theory, the first is positive, the 

 last negative. According to the French theory, the first is 

 vitreous, the last resinous. 



Let there be two machines. No. 1, and No. 2, so arrang- 

 ed,* that the positive or vitreous conductor of one, may 

 communicate with the negative or resinous conductor of 

 the other. In this case, the conductors, thus associated, 

 form effectively, but one conducting mass ; and one body, 

 with a cushion on one side, and collecting points on the 

 other, might be substituted for both. When this compound 

 apparatus is put into action, it will be fomid that the inter- 

 tnediate conductor, tested by the resinous conductor of No. 

 1, is vitreous: but that it is resinous, when tested by the 

 prime or vitreous conductor of No. 2. Thi? result agrees 



* See Plate— Figure 2. 



Vow. Vn.— No. 1. 14 



