[38o] 
I fhall be very ready, at any proper time, to comply 
with their defire. 
New Experiments and Obfervations concerning 
EleEiricity ; by Robert Syrnmer, Efq\ 
E R. S. 
PAPER IV. P A R T II. 
Of Two dijlinSi Powers in Pie Sir i city. 
Read Dec. 20, 
1 759 
T H E notion of two diftind eledrical 
powers, ading in contrary diredions, 
may appear to fome to be the fame with that of the 
effluence and affluence of eledrical matter, which 
M. l’Abbe Nollet gives as the general caufe of the 
phenomena of eledricity *. It may therefore be not 
improper to take a nearer view of thefe two opinions, 
to fee how far they agree, and in what they differ. 
This ingenious author, whofe merit in the learned 
world is very confiderable, particularly with regard to 
his labours in eledricity, had obferved, that, when 
a body is eledrified, a current of eledric fluid iffues 
from it, and, in the form of diverging rays, fpreads 
through the air, and enters into other bodies; and 
that, at the fame time, a current of eledric fluid. 
* “ Plus de trois ans fe font ecoules depuis que j’ai propofe 
“ com me la caufe generale des phenomenes ele&riques, l effluence 
“ et l' affluence fimultances d'une matiere jiuide , prefente par tout , et 
“ capable de s' enjlammer par le choc de fes propres rayons.” Preface 
to Recherches fur l' eledlricite^ at the beginning. 
8 ifliiing 
