56 Additional Notes. 



on an insulated conductor; yet there are other methods of effecting 

 this, as hy the vicinity of the two electric ethers with a nonconductor 

 between them. 



Thus I believe a great quantity of both vitreous and resinous elec- 

 tric ether may be accumulated in the following manner. Let a glass 

 jar be coated within in the usual manner; but let it have a loose exter- 

 nal coating, which can easily be withdrawn by an insulating handle. 

 Then charge the jar, as highly as it may be, by throwing into it 

 vitreous electric ether; and in this state hermetically seal it, if practi- 

 cable, otherwise close it with a glass stopple and wax. When the exter- 

 nal coating is drawn off by an insulating handle, having previously had 

 a communication with the earth, it will possess an accumulation of re- 

 sinous electric ether; and then touching it with your finger, a spark 

 will be seen, and there will cease to be any accumulated ether. 



Thus by alternately replacing this loose coating, and withdrawing 

 it from the sealed charged jar, by means of an insulating handle; and 

 by applying it to one insulated conductor, when it is in the vicinity of 

 the jar; and to another insulated conductor, when it is withdrawn; 

 vitreous electric ether may be accumulated on one of them, and re- 

 sinous on the other; and thus I suspect an immense quantity of both 

 ethers may be produced without friction or much labour, if a large 

 electric battery was so contrived; and that it might be applied to 

 many mechanical purposes, where other explosions are now used, as 

 in the place of steam engines, or to rend rocks, or timber, or destroy 

 invading armies ! 



The principle of this mode of accumulating the two electric ethers 

 in some measure resembles that of Volta's Electrophorus and Bennet's 

 Doubler. 



VI. Accumulation of electric ethers by heat and by decomposition. 



When glass or amber is heated by the fire in a dry season, I suspect 

 that it becomes in some degree electric; as either of the electric 

 ethers which is combined with them may have its combination 

 with those materials loosened by the application of heat; and that on 



