[46i] 
of this fluid ads at great diftances, and in grofs bo- 
dies particularly ; without the fluid being able to en- 
ter them. There can then be no doubt that the re- 
paration of the balls, in the prefent circumftances, 
entirely depends upon this repulfwe power ; which 
drives the natural quantity of the fluid belonging to 
the wood, or part of it at leaft, towards the balls. 
And though the repulfive power is fuflicient to force 
the fluid from the wood into the balls, and there oc- 
caflon the effeds of a plus eledricity, (as is found 
upon tryal j) * yet the experiment fhews, it is not fuf- 
ficient, in the fame circumftances, to force it out of 
them, as they ceafe to be eledrified on removing the 
power. ° 
. lf this ^ not the cafe, and the fluid from the glafs 
is fuppofed to enter to the wood j I would afk, why 
the balls do not retain the fluid, or at ieaft fome part 
of it, and continue feparated when the glafs is taken 
away ? It would be unphilofophical to fay, the glafs 
adually fuffered a quantity of the eledric fluid to pafs 
from it, into the wood and balls j and then, on re- 
moving the glafs, that it took it away again j or at- 
traded it back : becaufe when the fame glafs is 
brought near enough to the wood, the balls will be 
eledrified, and feparated fo effedually, as to continue 
in that ftate of fepaiation, after the glafs is removed i 
which pi oves clearly, that the repulfive power is not 
only great enough to overcome the refinance of the 
balls ; but even to force out fome part of the fluid 
contained therein : therefore in this cafe the balls are 
eledrified minus. And this minus may be increafed, 
* For the proof of this, fee the Eflay by Dr. Hoadly and my- 
felf, page 13. J 
VOL. LIU. 
O 0 o 
by 
