[ "I ] 
tity of grained Gunpowder rammed hard in a Piftol, 
is aimoft mdantaneoufly fired, and that with a great 
Report i when the fame Quantity of Gunpowder 
rubbed fine, and rammed hard, takes a confiderable 
Time in burning as a Squib, and makes no Explo- 
fion. 
§ XIX. The Caufes why the charged Phial will 
not explode quick, without the Electricity therein 
dcfcribing a Circuit through Subftances non eleCtric 
in a great Degree, may be very difficult to be afi 
figned. It is fufficient for us in the prefent Inquiry 
to be alfured of its being a certain, an invariable 
Law : And in order to prove, that the EleClricity, 
upon the Explofion, pafies with its whole Force 
through the Circuit of Non- electrics, contrary to 
what has been fuggefted, I made the following Ex- 
periment. 
§ XX. I procured two fmall fquare iron Bars, of 
about fourteen Inches long : An Inch at each End 
of thefe I caufed to be bent at right Angles. Thefe 
iron Bars were fupported in fuch manner (by Sub- 
ftances whether originally ele&ric, or not, was no- 
ways material) that each of their Ends came 
within about two Tenths of an Inch of fome 
warm Spirit of Wine, or Eflence of Lemons in 
four Spoons placed upon a Table. I then fufpended 
a common coated Phial filled with Filings of Iron to 
the Gun barrel, the tail Wire of which reached to 
a Table at a few Feet Diftance, and was placed 
under a brafs Weight which fupported the Handle 
of the firft of the Spoons: Over this Spoon, at the 
Diftance juft mention'd, I placed one of the fquare 
,iron 
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