120 Nichols: Franklin's 



use to know that china left in the air unsupported will 

 fall and break, but how it comes to fall, and why it 

 breaks are matters of speculation. 'Tis a pleasure in- 

 deed to know them, but we can preserve our china with- 

 out it."^ 



Franklin thought of electricity as a fluid penetrating 

 all forms of matter. It consisted, according to his view, 

 of mutually repellant particles each of which was indi- 

 vidually attracted by the particles of matter. Under 

 these attractions the electric fluid would pour into a sub- 

 stance, permeating it until equilibrium between the at- 

 tractions and repulsions occurred. Further additions of 

 the fluid would distribute themselves upon the surface, 

 forming what Franklin termed an electrical atmosphere 

 and the body would be positively charged. 



This theory, which I shall not attempt to outline 

 further, fulfills the requirements of a scientific hypothesis 

 in that it afforded a definite mechanical concept by 

 means of which all the facts known at that time could 

 be brought into relation with one another and harmon- 

 ized. When it became known to Franklin's contempor- 

 aries on the other side of the water it provoked a lively 

 discussion. Although totally at variance with the views 

 prevailing in Europe, his new one fluid theory appealed 

 to many. His adherents were known as the Franklinists, 

 and the controversy between them and their opponents 



'Franklin: Electricity, p. 62. 



