C 372 ] 
produce the various phenomena of electricity ; and 
that, when a body is faid to be pofitively electri- 
fied, it is not fimply that it is poflefled of a larger 
fhare of eleCtric matter than in a natural ftate; nor, 
when it is faid to be negatively electrified, of a 
lefs ; but that, in the former cafe, it is poflefled of 
a larger portion of one of thofe aCtive powers, and 
in the latter, of a larger portion of the other 5 while 
a body, in its natural date, remains uneleCtrified, 
from an equal ballance of thofe two powers within 
it. 
I do not here undertake to give a fyftem of electri- 
city. It is the defign of this paper to propofe the 
grounds of my opinion, only fo far as it refts upon 
obfervation and experiment. If the proofs I have to 
offer fhall be found conclufive, and it be allowed, that 
two diftinCt and counteracting powers prevail in elec- 
tricity, one of them correfponding with the pofitive, 
and the other with the negative ftate ; in that cafe, 
the truth thus eftablifhed, may afterwards be afliimed 
as a principle in theory j and we may try how far it 
will ferve in accounting for the various appearances of 
electricity. But even then, I fhould not think of 
troubling the Society with difcuflions of fo great a 
length, and of fo fpeculative a nature, as thofe ufually 
are that relate to theory. 
I might bring arguments to prove the exiftence of 
two diftinCt powers in eleCtricity, from a variety of 
obfervations and experiments, fome of them taken 
from among thofe mentioned in the preceding papers: 
But as the bounds I prefcribe to myfelf in this, do not 
permit me to enter upon fo large a field, I fhall con- 
fine myfelf to fuch obfervations only, as have fallen 
within 
