THE 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



ROYAL SOCIETY, 



1831-1832. No. 8. 



December 8, 1831. 



HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, K.G., 

 President, in the Chair. 



Thomas Maclear, Esq., Philip Hard wick, Esq., the Right Hon. 

 Lord Oxmantown, and Henry Robinson Palmer, Esq., were elected 

 Fellows of the Society. 



The reading of a paper, entitled " Experimental Researches in 

 Electricity," by Michael Faraday, Esq. F.R.S. was commenced. 



December 15, 1831. 



JOHN WILLIAM LUBBOCK, Esq. M.A., V.P. and Treasurer, 

 in the Chair. 



The reading of Mr. Faraday's paper, entitled " Experimental 

 Researches in Electricity," was concluded. 



This paper is divided into four parts : the first being on the In- 

 duction of Electric Currents ; the second, on the Evolution of Elec- 

 tricity from Magnetism < the third, on a new Electrical Condition 

 of Matter; and the fourth, on Arago's Magnetic Phaenomena. 



The author defines electrical induction to be the power which 

 electrical currents possess of inducing any particular state upon 

 matter in their immediate neighbourhood. A great length of copper 

 wire, l-20th of an inch in diameter, was wound round a cylinder of 

 wood so as to compose two helices, the coils of which were inter- 

 mixed, but prevented from touching each other by interposed threads 

 of twine and calico. One helix was connected with a voltaic battery, 

 and the other with a galvanometer. No effect was perceived on the 

 latter, with a battery of 10 plates: a slight effect only with one of 

 100 plates ; and a distinct deflection of the needle of the galvano- 

 meter occurred when the contact was made with a battery of 120 

 plates. While the contact was preserved, the needle returned to its 

 natural position, and was unaffected by the electric current passing 

 through the wire connected with the battery ; but on breaking the 

 connexion, the needle of the galvanometer was again deflected, but 

 in a direction contrary to that of its former deflection. Hence it is 

 inferred that the electric current sent by the battery through one 



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