126 Rutherford: Modern 



of Philadelphia. Animated at first probably by curios- 

 ity to see for himself the effects produced by this mys- 

 terious new agent, Franklin rapidly contracted the fever 

 of the scientific discoverer. In his first communication, 

 addressed in the form of a letter to CoUinson, he starts 

 by giving an admirable and clear statement of the ac- 

 tion of points in " drawing off " and " throwing off " 

 the electrical fire. He then proceeds to formulate his 

 views of electrical action in the following words: 



" We had for some time been of opinion that the elec- 

 trical fire was not created by friction, but collected, 

 being really an element diffused among and attracted by 

 other matter, particularly by water and metals.". Later 

 follows a description of the experiments which had led 

 him to these conclusions: 



"A person standing on wax and rubbing the tube, and 

 another person on wax drawing the fire, they will both 

 of them (provided they do not stand so as to touch one 

 another) appear to be electrized to a person standing 

 on the floor; that is, he will perceive a spark on ap- 

 proaching each of them with his knuckle. 



" But if the persons on wax touch one another during 

 the exciting of the tube, neither of them will appear to 

 be electrized. 



" If they touch one another after exciting the tube, 

 and drawing the fire as aforesaid, there will be a stronger 



