262 



ON THE ELECTRIC COLUMN. 



Aqaeoxis va. I. During the time that the .vMn'i rays pervade the atmo^ 

 pourtians- gphere, the aqueous vapour, ascending in it by the evapora- 

 inospheric-iir tion which continually takes place on the surface of the 

 by electricity, earth, is transl'ormed into atmospheric air, by some combi- 

 nation of this vapour with the electric Jiuid, which, during 

 the same time, is formed in the atmosphere. A' formation 

 of eject ricjftuid at that time is shown by Mr. de Saussure's 

 observations already mentioned ; but that the quantity thus 

 manifested is not the whole, but that a great part of this 

 new Jiuid is employed in the above transformation, is proved, 

 as will be seen hereafter, by the production o\' lightning an4 

 thunder, which cannot have any other source. 

 Vector. II. Thus, but by a particular operation, is formed that 



subtile^Mi(i, which I have called vector, possessing many of 

 the properties of light, but with the characteristic differences 

 which I have deterrainfcd. This fluid pervades instantly all 

 bodies, is constantly present in the atmosphere, and has 

 probably a great share in its phenomena ; but its only func- 

 tion yet determined is, to unite with the electric matter com- 

 posed at the same time; and, being thus the cause of the 

 expansibility of the electric jivid, it produces all the pheno- 

 TOena known under the name oi electric injluences^ as I have 

 explaintd. 

 ^ew. Ill* I" clear weather dew is produced at sunset, because 



that formation of electric Jiuid then ceasing in the atmo- 

 sphere, the uf^ueous vapour, which continues to ascend in it, 

 remains unchanged, and its quantity increasing too much 

 in the air comparatively to the decreasing heat, it precipi- 

 tates in visible particles of water : when heat decreases 

 ... ^j^^ ^^^ very rapidly in the air after sunset, the vapour is seen con- 

 lumnalfogs. densed as a 7?n,sf over meadows ; and at last in autumn it 



pvoducesyb^.?. 

 Clouds and ^^ • The return of a/wosp/ienc air into aqueous vapour, 



rain. whence result clouds, and afterward rain, is produced by 



some subtile Jiuid ascending from the base of the atmosphere, 

 ^ iheaffinities of which with the ingredient^ whereby the ague- 



ous vapour has been transformed into atmospheric air de- 

 compose the latter. Thus, particles of aqueous vapour being 

 substituted for particles of oir in some stratum of the atmo- 

 sphere, and becoming much too abundant to subsist in the 



