[ 666 ]' 
Wire towards the point, tends to impel the wire In* 
the contrary direction. 
It is well known, that if a body B is pofitivcly- 
eledtrified, and another body A, communicating 
with the ground, be then brought near it,* the elec- 
tric fluid will efcape faftcr from B, at that part of it 
which is turned towards A, than before. This is 
plainly conformable to theory ; for as A is thereby 
rendered undercharged, B will in its turn be made 
more overcharged, in that part of it which is turned 
towards A, than it was before. But it is alfo well, 
known that the fluid will efcape fafter from B, iOA, 
be pointed, than if it be blunt ; though B will be 
iefs overcharged in this cafe than in the other ; for the 
broader the lurface of A, wdiich is turned towards B, 
the more efledl will it have in increafing, the over- 
charge of B. The caufe of this phaenomenon is* as. 
follows : 
If A is pointed, and the pointed end turned to- 
wards B, the air clofe to the point will be very much 
UTidercharged, and therefore will be ftrongly repelled 
by A, and attradled by B, which will caule a iwift 
current of air to flow from it towards B; by which 
means a conflant fupply of undercharged- air will be 
brought in contadl with B, which will accelerate the 
difeharge of eledfricity from it in a very great de- 
gree: and moreover, the more pointed A is, the 
fwifter will be this current. If, on the other hand, 
that end of A which is turned towards B, is fo blunt, 
that the eledlricity is not difpolcd.to run into A fafler 
than it is to run out of B, the air adjoining to B may 
be as much overcharged as that adjoining to A is un- 
dercharged j and therefore may by the joint repul fion^ 
