C 406 ] 
or ftanding at the greateft diftance from each 
other ; it is imagined, that they actually do fo, 
and will not enter the ball, and wire, at the oppo- 
fite end of the conductor, in a point , or ftnall 
[pace, (as they do in the open air) ; but that they 
entirely furround them, and enter at all parts at 
the fame time , in order to their conveyance into 
thofe bodies placed at the end of the brafs work 
to receive them. 
If, inftead of the brafs balls in the tube, 
points are ufed ; or if a point be fixed at one end of 
the tube, and a ball at the other ; the effeft will 
be precifely the fame. Note alfo, That the 
glafs -conductor, for the purpofe of making Dr. 
franklin’s curious experiments, with a pointed 
and blunted wire, is far fuperior to one of metal, 
the eledtric atmofphere being fo much better re- 
tained by it. By this eafy and fimple procefs, 
may an ocular demonftration, at all times, be 
given, in a dark room, and dry air, of the truth 
and propriety of Dr. franklin’s hypothecs of the 
Leyden bottle. 
SECTION FIFTH. 
Mifcellaneous Experiments, made principally in the Years 
1771 and 1772. 
EXPERIMENT I. 
* 
I F a black filk ribband, or a piece of black fllk, 
be laid on a quire of paper, &c. on a table, and 
excited by drawing over its furface fealing-wax, 
fulphur. 
