[ 74 § ] 
( n ) that this Matter always tends to an zfflEqiiili- 
brmm, and endeavours to occupy thofe Spaces in 
Bodies, which have not their neceffary Quantity : 
All which Affertions may now be proved by Expe- 
riments. 
67. You fee, Gentlemen, by my aliening, that 
what we have hitherto called electrical Effluvia, do 
not proceed from the Glafs, or other Electrics per 
Je , I differ from Cabeus , 'Dtgby, Gafflendus , Brown , 
Des Cartes , and very great Names of the laft as well 
as the prefent Age. My differing from them would 
be Prefumption indeed, were I not induced thereto, 
by Obfervations drawn from a Series of Experiments 
carefully conducted, to which many of you have 
been Witneffes, and to whom I may therefore ap- 
peal, for taking what may feem fo extraordinary a 
Step. I have conftantly had in View that excellent 
Maxim of Sir Ifaac Newton laid down in his Optics , 
that, tC as in Mathematics, fo in Natural Philofophy, the 
“ Inveftigation of difficult Things by the Method of 
cc Analyfis ought ever to precede the Method of Com- 
cc pofition. This Analyfis confifts in making Experh 
“ ments and Obfervations, and in drawing general 
u Conclufions from them by Induction, and admitting 
Cc of no Objections againftthe Conclufions, but fuch 
ce as are taken from Experiments, or other certain 
u Truths. For Hypothefes are not to be regarded, 
<c in Experimental Philofophy. And although the 
“ arguing from Experiments and Obfervations by 
“ induction 
(n) La meme . Cette matiere tend a l’equilibre, et s’emprefTe 
de remplir les efpaces, qui fe trouvent vuides des parties de fon 
efpcce. 
2 
