46 



ADDITIONAL NOTES. XII. 



CHEMICAL THEORY OF ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM. 



Then mark how two electric streams conspire 



To form the resinous and vitreous fire. CANTO III. 1. 21. 



I. Of Attraction and Repulsion. 



THE motions, which accomplish the combinations and decomposi- 

 tions of bodies, depend on the peculiar attractions and repulsions of 

 the particles of those bodies, or of the sides and angles of them ; while 

 the motions of the sun and planets, of the air and ocean, and of all 

 bodies approaching to a general centre or retreating from it, depend 

 on the general attraction or repulsion of those masses of matter. The 

 peculiar attractions above mentioned are termed chemical affinities, 

 and the general attraction is termed gravitation; but the peculiar re- 

 pulsions of the particles of bodies, or the general repulsion of the 

 masses of matter, have obtained no specific names, nor have been suf- 

 ficiently considered; though they appear to be as powerful agents as 

 the attractions. 



The motions of ethereal fluids, as of magnetism and electricity, 

 are yet imperfectly understood, and seem to depend both on chemical 

 affinity, and on gravitation; and also on the peculiar repulsions of the 

 particles of bodies, and on the general repulsion of the masses of 

 matter. 



In what manner attraction and repulsion are produced has not yet 

 been attempted to be explained by modern philosophers; but as 

 nothing can act, where it does not exist, all distant attraction of the 

 particles of bodies, as well as general gravitation, must be ascribed to 

 some still finer ethereal fluid; which fills up all space between the suns 

 and their planets, as well as the interstices of coherent matter. Re- 

 pulsion in the same manner must consist of some finer ethereal fluid; 



