[ 906 ] 
be deprived of that motion, and made to turn round 
the contrary way. 
This experiment, he fays, was contrived, in order 
to try whether the eledtric fluid, which iflues fo freely 
from pointed bodies, would have any effedt to move 
thefe bodies by its reaction ; and that it has luch an 
effedt, feems fufikiently manifeft from the event. 
Mr. Hamilton apprehends, that the eledtric par- 
ticles, by their elaftic force, iffue diredtly forwards 
from the points, and endeavour to expand themfelves ; 
but meeting with fome refinance from the air, force 
the wire to move backward in a contrary direction, 
much in the fame manner that a Catherine-wheel is 
made to turn round in a direction, contrary to that in 
which the fmall rockets affixed to its periphery dis- 
charge themfelves. And therefore, he is inclined to 
think, that it might be made ufe of as an eledlrometer, 
by having it to turn round in a plane perpendiculai to 
the horizon, and loading the wire with Imall weights 
near one of its extremities, which will be raifed to a 
greater diftance from the perpendiculai line, as the 
eledtric fluid is Wronger. 
Great Queen- Street 
Nov. 5, 1760. 
I am, my Lord, 
Your Lordfhip’s 
moft obliged 
and obedient fervant, 
Benj. Wilfon. 
LXXX* A 
