Qbfervations in Electricity. 97 
completely reftored its electricity when loft, is not this 
an indication of a great affinity at leaft between phlogif- 
ton and the eledtric fluid, if indeed they be not the fame 
thing d^? Further, as electricity is produced in the choco- 
late by heat and fridtion, and manifefted by its ufual 
phenomena in the cooling of that fubftance, query, may 
not eledtricity be produced from the other oily nuts, ker- 
nels, or feeds (particularly thofe of the torrid zone) 
treated in the fame manner? 
However, as the electric matter is refident in, and may 
be difengaged from, all the fubftances we are acquainted 
with ; as the air is at all times replete with it ; as its ope- 
ation is fo fecret, fo rapid, and at times fo tremendous; 
as it is fo eafily excited or put in adtion by fridtion, by 
heating and cooling, and perhaps by means we are totally 
unacquainted with; I think we may fafely conclude, 
that electricity, as it is one of the moft powerful, is alfo 
one of the moft important, agents in nature. Many ufe- 
ful difcoveries have been made refpedting the adlion, in- 
fluence, and effedts of this fubtile fluid; but certainly 
much remains to be done, and the field for future la- 
bourers feems daily to enlarge. Indeed, notwithftanding 
the number of difcoveries in eledtricity this age may 
juftly boaft of, I cannot but be of opinion (which I men- 
(f) A thick leum from the furface of fome linfee-doil expofed to the air, anl 
thoroughly dried, became a very Itrong negative eicftric. 
Vol. LX VII. O tion 
