[ * P 2 ] 
into the Water of the Bafon; whilft another Ob' 
ferver, at the oppofne Side of the Bafon, held the 
other End of the Chain in his right Hand, and a Phial 
well eleftrified in his left : He then caufed the Wire 
of his Phial to touch an iron Rod, fixed upright in a 
Piece of Cork that floated near the Edge of the Bafon $ 
at that Inftant both Obfervers felt a violent Shock in 
both their Arms. This fame Fa ft was again con- 
firmed, by Experiments made upon two Bafons at the 
fame time, that it might appear diftin&ly, that the 
elcdrical Effluvia did really pafs along the Super- 
ficies of the Water. 
Fourthly, It has been confirmed, by repeated Compa- 
rifons, that a Bar of Iron placed in the above-mentioned 
Curve, does not at all acquire more Electricity, when it 
is fufpended in filken Lines, than when it is held in 
the bare Hand. Whence it .appears, that, in this Cafe, 
the contiguous non-ele&ric 'Bodies do neither partake 
of, nor abforb in any v/ay, the Ele&ricity that has 
been communicated. * 
Bcfides many ftrong Exceptions to the Rule laid 
down by Monfieur duFay, the Author adds another 
yet ftronger, and indeed dire&ly contrary to that 
Rule; which is, that the fame Phial of Water, fitted 
with its Wire, receives either no Virtue at all, or at 
leaf! none that is fenfible, fo long as it is either 
placed upon a Stand of Glafs that is very dry, or that 
it is fufpended by a filken Thread, whilft irs Wire 
refts upon the Globe; and that, to make it receive 
the Virtue, the Part of the Phial which is below the 
Surface of the Water, muft communicate with fome 
Body. 
