and its Connection *with Magnetism. 185 



the law of electrical induction : this is familiariy known to all 

 electricians. Now, it appears certain that the agency of in- 

 duction is in constant operation, and that no limits can be set 

 to the extent of its agency. It moreover appears that the 

 spherical form is the one most favourable to the retention of 

 the electric fluid; while, on the contrary, points tend to 

 produce its rapid dispersion. The earth and moon are of a 

 form almost spherical ; and there is little doubt that electri- 

 city is distributed over their surfaces, and is maintained and 

 renewed by the electrising principle of the sun's rays. If, 

 then, the surfaces of the planetary bodies be in an active 

 electrical condition, will they not tend mutually to attract 

 each other ? With these considerations before us, it must be 

 reasonable to pause, and enquire whether an agent like elec- 

 tricity, so subtle, so powerful, so susceptible of infinite modi- 

 fications (the reality of whose existence is undeniable, and the 

 nature of whose phenomena admits of absolute demonstration 

 by experiment), whether such an agent may not be capable of 

 producing ail the phenomena which are usually ascribed to 

 gravitation; whether it may not govern the movements of, 

 and regulate those attractions between, a planet and its satel- 

 lites, on which depend the vicissitudes of the seasons, the 

 alternations of day and night, and the ebbing and flowing of 

 the tides. Electricity is known to exist ; it is known to be 

 more or less in a state of constant operation : in a word, it is 

 a cause producing effects. Gravitation, on the contrary, is a 

 conventional term for an effect ; certain, indeed, but resulting 

 from no ascertained cause. We have, then, to decide, whe- 

 ther it be not more philosophical to admit that so tremen- 

 dously powerful an agent as electricity is capable of inducing 

 all the effects ascribed to gravitation, than to remain satisfied 

 with the assumption that bodies gravitate ; solely because, by 

 the law of their creation, they tend to fall towards a centre ; 

 or to believe, according to some writers, ' that every particle 

 of matter in nature gravitates or tends towards every other 

 particle.' 



If it be permitted to us to enlarge our views, and to sup- 

 pose that the sun's electrising power operates upon the whole 

 planetary system, and establishes all their primary and se- 

 condary relations, which act and react one on the other ; if, 

 moreover, we conceive the pi'obability of a mutual inter- 

 change of influences existing between the sun and its planets, 

 and that he attracts and receives from them that matter 

 which supports and renews the luminous fluid that composes 

 his own rays, how vastly comprehensive will appear the 

 mighty plan of operations, a plan by which not even a particle 



