458 Recent Progress of Electricity . [August, 
the purposes He had in view in its creation. One of the 
most powerful of these — the Geni of the (secret) fire, 
Electron — is invisible to the human eye, and unrecognisable 
by the ordinary human senses, except upon rare occasions, 
or when subjected to the spell of a skilled magician. 
It is difficult to give the correct portraiture and dimensions 
of this great spirit, but it may be said that, while his head 
reaches far above the clouds, and his feet go down into the 
bowels of the earth, and traverse them more freely than a 
bird can fly through the air, he can also enter into the 
smallest and invisible cell that forms part of the material of 
the globe. In truth, he performs an important part in 
almost all the operations going on in the world, whether 
great or small, but so quietly and gently does he work, that 
his presence is never known or suspeCted, except on the 
occurrence of something calculated to rouse him to anger or 
opposition. 
The power and immensity of this Geni may be in some 
degree comprehended when it is stated that the tremendous 
roar of his voice, the dazzling brightness of the flash of his 
eye, the inconceivable rapidity of his movements, and the 
irresistible force of his strength, are such that in respeCt to 
them there is no terrestrial being that can for a moment be 
compared with him. When careering with his full force, if 
any obstacle should interrupt his progress or tend to circum- 
scribe his liberty, he will in a moment burst the strongest 
barriers in his way, shattering and destroying them by 
streams of fire, which he launches forth, accompanied with 
such appalling and tremendous bellowings as seem to make 
the earth to tremble. Such behaviour (comportment) on his 
part naturally inspires mankind with terror and awe, and it 
has had the effect, in past times, of deterring them from 
cultivating his acquaintance or friendship. Indeed, until 
very recent times, they looked upon him more in the light 
of God’s minister of punishment and destruction than as the 
friendly and beneficent, though powerful, being they are 
now beginning to discover him to be. 
A wise man of America, named Benjamin, who, more than 
ahundred years ago, was among the first who had the courage, 
sagacity, and taCt to enter into close and friendly relations 
with him, by a careful study of his character and habits, 
succeeded in making an arrangement by which, in considera- 
tion of an easy and free passage being provided for him to 
his favourite resting place under the ground, he gave promise 
for the future to refrain from an old and destructive practice 
he had been in the habit of indulging in, — that of toppling 
