Chemical Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. 75 



and repulsions, which so visibly exist in atmospheres round larger 

 masses of matter, may be applied to explain the invisible attractions 

 and repulsions of the minute particles of bodies in chemical combina- 

 tions and decompositions, and also to give a clear idea of the attrac- 

 tions of the great masses of matter, which form the gravitations of the 

 universe. 



We are so accustomed to see bodies attract each other, when they 

 are in absolute contact, as dew drops or particles of quicksilver form- 

 ing themselves into spheres, as water rising in capillary tubes, the 

 solution of salts and sugar in water, and the cohesion with which all 

 hard bodies are held together, that we are not surprised at the attrac- 

 tions of bodies in contact with each other, but ascribe them to a law 

 affecting all matter. In similar manner when two bodies in apparent 

 contact repel each other, as oil thrown on water; or when heat con- 

 verts ice into water and water into steam ; or when one hard body in 

 motion pushes another hard body out of its place ; we feel no surprise, 

 as these events so perpetually occur to us, but ascribe them as well 

 as the attractions of bodies in contact with each other, to a general 

 law of nature. 



But when distant bodies appear to attract or repel each other, as 

 we believe that nothing can act where it does not exist, we are struck 

 with astonishment; which is owing to our not seeing the intermediate 

 ethers, the existence of which is ascertained by the electric and mag- 

 netic facts above related. 



From the facts and observations above mentioned electricity and 

 magnetism consist each of them of two ethers, as the vitreous and re- 

 sinous electric ethers, and the arctic and antarctic magnetic ethers. 

 But as neither of the electric ethers will pass through glass or resin; 

 and as neither of the magnetic ethers will pass through any bodies ex- 

 cept iron; and yet the attractive and repulsive powers accompanying 

 all these ethers permeate bodies of all kinds ; it follows, that ethers 

 more subtile than either the electric or magnetic ones attend those 

 ethers forming atmospheres round them; as those electric and mag- 

 netic ethers themselves form atmospheres round other bodies. 



This secondary atmosphere of the electric one appears to consist 



