[ 343 ] 
The Abbe Nollet, being defirous of fupporting 
the validity of fome opinions of bis, in relation to the 
nature and properties of eledtricity, defiled of the 
Royal Academy, that a committee fhould be ap- 
pointed, to examine the truth of fome experiments, 
which the abbe considered as proofs of what he had 
edablifhed. A committee was accordingly appointed, 
which confided of Medieurs Deparcieux, Fougeroux, 
Bezout, Tillet, and Briffon, who all atteded to the 
academy, that the refults of thefe experiments, at the 
making of which they were prefent, were fuch as the 
abbe had foretold, in a memoir, which had been read 
to the academy ; an attedation of which is given in 
this work, figned by M. De Fouchy, fecretary to the 
academy, and is dated ioth April 1760. 
Thefe experiments are fixty in number, fome of 
which are fubdivided to more fubordinate ones, and 
are mod of them exceedingly well chofen. They 
tend to prove the limultaneou? affluence and effluence 
of the eledfric matter, a doarine long fince efpoufed, 
and very well Supported by our author ; but vehe- 
mently, and with much afperity, contioveited by fome 
gentlemen at Paris. For a detail of thefe experiments, 
1 mud refer you to the work itfelf ; and as they with- 
out doubt are very fairly dated, every perfon con- 
verfant in thefe enquiries will carefully confider them, 
and, at the fame time, redea how far the hypothefis 
is deducible from the phenomena. 
Iam, with the mod profound refpea. 
Gentlemen, 
Your mod obedient 
humble Servant, 
W. Watfon. 
May 24, i“6j. 
