]^6 PERFORATIONS OF PAPER BY ELECTRICITY. 



than this to 9how, that the buds proceed from the interior, 

 and therefore from the line of life, for nothing can be-more 

 different than the appearance of this specimen, and o: the 

 wood in the stem, which is perfectly straight, and '.vithout any 

 openings, while these appear in such quantities in fig. 3. Al- 

 most every tree in the spring shoots its buds in the same 

 way, but few in such numbers as the laburnum-. 



II. 



Remarks on the Perforations made in Paper by E/ectrical 

 Batteries. In a letter from Mr. John Gough. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 Sir, 



An expert- IVJL ANY philosophers are of opinion, that the phenomena 



inent in avour f electricity and galvanism are caused by tne cooperation of 



of two electric ... . 



fluids stated, two distinct kinds of subtile matter ; which they denominate 



the positive and the negative electric fluids. Amongst many 

 other facts and argument in favour of this hypothesis, the 

 following experiments formerly appeared to me as amount- 

 ing to a proof; because it seemed to be little short of -a me- 

 chanical demonstration. If a quire of writing paper be 

 placed betwixt the points of two metal rods, which are in con- 

 tact with the opposite sides of it, and the charge of an elec- 

 trical battery be transmitted through the wires, the bundle 

 of paper will be perforated in the direction of a right line 

 joining their points ; and each orifice of the perforation will 

 be surrounded externally by a bur, or prominent rim. The 

 peculiarity of this experiment consists in the two rings or ele- 

 vated borders, which are driven outward in opposite directions 

 by the force of the discharge; and their presence is supposed 

 to prove the existence of two opposite currents ; which strike 

 the parallel sides of the quire at the same instant, and meet 

 in the middle of the paper, after perforating the sheets in con- 

 trary directions. 

 This expert The preceding experiment happened to be the subject of 



merit c Ued in conversation in a company, where 1 had the pleasure of meet- 

 drfeSded* 1 " 1 »»g Mr. Webster j who lately gave a course* of lectures at 



Kendal 



