C 257 ] 
of the Water; and then, in touching the Surface of 
the Water with one Hand, and the (landing Wire 
with the Wire of the electrified Phial, which is 
grafped by the other Hand, as in the preceding Ex- 
periments. The Effect of this is much more violent 
than thatofthelaft Experiment, and I think, exceeds 
even the Shock of the Gun-Barrel ; fo that here the ut- 
nioff Precaution muff be ufed, not to electrify the Phial 
too much. 
I obferved particularly upon the Trial of this* 
that the Operator, who appeared to be very expert, and 
quite familiarized with every former Effect, (hewed 
however fome Apprehenfion, and was unwilling to 
lead the Way, as he had done in all the other Ex- 
periments. 
Exp. VIE 
If the electrified Phial is held in the Hand, and the 
Chamber is darkened, the Wire inferted in it is per- 
ceived to emit a Stream of Fire at its Extremity 
without any Difcontinuance; but if it is fufpended 
by a filken Thread, the fiery Eruption inffantly 
ceafes. 
This, as aPerfon would be apt to imagine, gives fome 
Infight into the Reafon of its Retention of Electricity j 
the ambient Glafs and filken Thread being in the Num- 
ber of the Electrics per fe, which have a Power of de- 
termining to, and confining in, any other kind of Body, 
a communicated Electricity, though they are not fuf- 
ceptible of it themfelves. Yet, as the French obferve 
very well, there are fo many of what they term Bi - 
K k 2 zarrerieSi 
