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• . s; * • f t 
the remarks I have been able to make in the repeti- 
tion of experiments, that need to be added to what I 
had before obferved, may be reduced to the three fol- 
lowing. 
i°. When a quire of paper, without any thing be- 
tween the leaves, is pierced with a ftroke of electricity, 
the two different powers keep in the fame trad, and 
make but one hole in their paffage through the paper: 
not but that the power from above, or that from be- 
low, fometimes darts into the paper at two or more 
fundry points, making fo many holes, which, how- 
ever, generally unite before they go through the 
paper. What I mean is, that I never yet could ob- 
ferve the two powers to make different holes in the 
paper ; but that they always keep the fame common 
channel, rufhing along it with inconceivable impe- 
tuofity, and in contrary directions. They feem to 
pafs each other much about the middle of the quire; 
for there the edges are moft vifibly bent different 
ways : whereas in the leaves near the outfide of the 
quire, the holes very often carry more the appearance 
of the paffage of a power iffuing out, and exploding 
into the air, than of one darting into the paper. 
2°. When any thin metallic fubfhnce, fuch as 
gilt- leaf, or tin-foil, is put between the leaves of the 
quire, and the whole ftruck ; in that cafe, the coun- 
teracting powers deviate from the direCteft traCt, and 
leaving the path they would in common have taken 
through the paper only, make their way in different 
lines to the metallic body, and ftrike it in two differ- 
ent points, diftant from one another about a quarter 
of an inch, more or lefs (the diftance appearing to be 
leaft when the power is greateft;) and whether they 
pierce, 
2 
