C 529 ] 
and another, tho’ in contact with it, has remain’d un- 
touch’d, the latter will be found to be of that kind, 
which eleCtrical fire will not join with. 
I muft beg you will let me know, whether this 
theory is worth your acceptance ; for I fear I am, 
like a fond mother, blind to the imperfections of my 
own child. I have dandled this opinion for eighteen 
months paft; ftill fearing to lay it before you; and 
now, infiead of feeing its defeCts, I begin to fan fy, 
that it has the face of truth and demonftration. If 
you think this difcovery worth the purfuit, I fhali 
venture to trouble you hereafter with fome farther at- 
tempts to fhew, that this fire is a moft confiderable 
agent in nature. Firft, that the afcent of vapour and 
exhalation is principally owing to it, and that our at- 
mofphere, by that means, is kept more homogeneal 
than is generally fuppofed, and fitter for refpiration, 
vifion, &c. and that clouds of heterogeneous matter 
are kept fufpended at their ufual height merely by 
this fire. Secondly, I fhali prove, that this fire is the 
caufe of reflexion, refraCtion, and inflexion of light. 
Thirdly, I (hall endeavour to fhew, that it is the 
caufe of that fecondary attraction and repulfion, which 
Sir Ifaac Newton has taken notice of. Laftly, I fhali 
give fome hints of the great ufe of this fire in animal 
life, and in vegetation. What further I have thought 
of this fire, I fhali not now trouble you with. I 
am, 
Gentlemen, 
Your moft humble and 
molt obedient fervant, 
Henry Eeles, 
X x x 
