[ 7 2 9 ] 
by the Attrition of glafs Tubes, the electrical Power 
is brought from the Body of the Man who rubs the 
Tube $ and he is conftantly taking in a Supply from 
the Floor. 
5-3. What I here call the electrical JEther, is that 
Atmofphere which furrounds both excited Origi- 
nally electrics, and excited Non-electrics. That this 
is extended to a confiderable Diftance, appears, 
from a fine Thread, or Piece of Cotton-grafs Seed, 
being attracted at fome Diftance from them, as far 
as which, it is prefumed, this Atmofphere extends. 
Here indeed it is only perceived by its Effects upon 
thefe light Subftances : but at the Brufh of Flame 
from the End of the Wire bcfore-mentioiYd, from 
fome Bran lying upon a flat Piece of Metal in Con- 
tact with excited Non-electrics, your Hand being 
held over it, and in many other Experiments, it be- 
comes manifeft to your Feeling as a Blaft of cold 
Wind. You feel it likewife in a lefs Degree, when 
a glafs Tube is well excited, and brought near your 
Face. If no unexcited Non-electric is near, this 
Atmofphere feems to be determined equally over 
all the excited Non-electrics in Contact with the 
Machine j but if a Non-electric unexcited is brought 
near, the greateft Part of it is determin'd that way * 
and hereby the Attraction at any other Part of thefe 
excited Non-elecmcs is confiderably diminifhed. 
Hence the Caufe of the Repulfion of Electricity, 
which does not operate, until the electrical ^Bther 
is fufficiently accumulated. This electrical Repul- 
fion is ftrongeft in thofe Parts of the excited Non- 
electrics, where unexcited Non-electrics are brought 
near them j for by thefe the electrical- Blaft, which 
B b b b b 2 otherwife, 
