[ 4-8 1 ] 
I. Experiments and Obfervations , tending 
> to illuftrate the Nature and Properties 
of Electricity : By William Watfon, 
Apothecary , F. R. S. 
A Letter to Martin Folkes, Efq\ Pr. R. S. 
Head at federal Meetings 
of the Royal Society, between 
March 28, and October 24, 
1745. ^ ere printed with Al- 
terations . 
SIR, 
T 
HE Society hav- 
ing heard, from fomc 
of their Correfpon- 
dents in * Germany, 
that what they call a Vegetable Quintefience had been 
fired by Electricity, I take this Opportunity to acquaint 
you, that, on Friday Evening laft, I fucceeded, after 
having been difappointed in many Attempts, in fetting 
Spirits of Wine on fire by that Power. 
The preceding Part of the Week had been re- 
markably warm, and the Air very dry ; than which 
nothing is more neccffary towards the Succefs of 
elciStrical Trials: Tothefelmay add, that the Wind 
was then Eafterly, and inclining to freeze. I that 
Evening ufed a glafs Sphere, as well as a, Tube ; but 
1 always find myfelf capable of fending forth much 
more Fire from the Tube than from the Sphere, 
probably, from not being fufficiently ufed to the 
laft. 
Q^q q I had 
* See an Account of Prof. JVinckler' $ Book of Electricity in thefe 
TranJ. N°. 474. p. 1 66 . Prof. Hollinan, Tranf. N° 475. p. 239. 
Dr .Miles ib. p.290. Winckler's E xperiments, ib. p. 307. Mr. de 
Boxes, Tranf. N 9 . 47$. p. 419. _ C. M. 
