[ 47 ° ] 
make fuch conclufions from different converfations 
I had held on the fubjedt with eminent perfons 
both at London and Paris. It is but juftice to lay, 
that of all in that clafs you gave me the greateft 
encouragement to look for fuccefs in this refearch, 
and even aflifted. me in forming hypothecs, how 
the Torpedo, fuppofed to be endued with eledtric 
properties, might ufe them in fo condudting an 
element as water. 
After generally recommending to others an ex- 
amination of the eledtric powers of thefe animals 
when adting in water, I determined, before I took 
my final leave of them, to make fome farther ex- 
periments myfelf with that particular view ; fince, 
notwithftanding the familiarity in which we may 
be faid to have lived with them for near a month, 
we had never detedted them in the immediate exer- 
cife of their eledtric faculties againfl other fifh, 
confined with them in the fame water, either in 
the circumftance of attacking their prey, or de- 
fending themfelves from annoyance : and yet 
that they poffeffed fuch a power, and exercifed it 
in a ftate of liberty, could not be doubted. 
A large Torpedo, very liberal of his fhocks, 
being held with both hands by his eledtric organs 
above and below, was brifkly plunged into water 
to the depth of a foot, and inftantly raifed an 
equal height into air ; and was thus continually 
plunged and raifed, as quick as pofiible, for the 
ljpace of a minute. In the inftant his lower fur- 
face touched the water in his defcent, he always 
gave a violent fhock, and another {till more vio- 
lent in the inftant of quitting the water in his 
afcent ; 
