161 



A paper was communicated to the Society, entitled, " Experimen- 

 tal Researches on Electricity, Third Series," by Michael Faraday, 

 Esq. D.C.L. F.R.S. M.RJ., the reading of which was deferred to the 

 next Meeting. 



The Society then adjourned over the Christmas Vacation, to meet 

 again on the 10th of January. 



January 10, 1833. 



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



in the Chair. 



The reading of Mr. Faraday's paper, communicated at the last 

 Meeting, and entitled, " Experimental Researches on Electricity, 

 Third Series," was commenced. 



January 17, 1833. 

 MARK ISAMBARD BRUNEL, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The reading of Mr. Faraday's paper was resumed and concluded. 



The object of the inquiries of which an account is given in the pre- 

 sent paper, is to establish the identity of the electricities derived from 

 different sources. The author was induced to investigate this sub- 

 ject, because doubts have been frequently expressed as to the accu- 

 racy of some experiments from which the identity of common and 

 voltaic electricities is inferred : and distinctions have been drawn 

 between them, as if they were different forms and modifications of 

 one common power. In order to examine the question in all its 

 bearings, he arranges the phenomena under two general heads ; 

 namely, those arising from electricity in a state of equilibrium, or 

 tension, as it has been called ; and those which are the consequence 

 of its motion, when that equilibrium has been destroyed. The visible 

 effects of electricity of tension are attractions or repulsions at sensible 

 distances ; those of electricity in motion are the evolution of heat, 

 the production of magnetism, chemical decompositions, physiological 

 changes, and, lastly, the evolution of light in the form of a spark. 

 The author proves, by experiments, that every one of these pheeno- 

 mena takes place from the operation either of ordinary or of voltaic 

 electricity ; the degree in which they are produced depending on the 

 different circumstances of quantity, of intensity, and of velocity, at- 

 tendant on the different modes in which electricity has been excited 

 and supplied. Thus no difference was found to exist in the mode in 

 which a Leyden battery charged with ordinary electricity, and a vol- 

 taic battery, were discharged, when the comparison was made by 

 means of fine points, nicely arranged and approximated, either through 

 air of the ordinary temperature, or through heated air, such as the 

 flame of a spirit-lamp, interposed between the points. 



By the term current, the author designates any progressive change, 

 of whatever nature it may be, in the electric state, whether consisting; 



