on the Electrophorus. 1043 
If the metal plate be touched at that fide where it is 
really in a negative ftate, it will, notwithftanding, part 
with its accumulated pofitive eleftricity ; becaufe the re- 
puhive power of the atmofphere of the cake will force 
this crouded eleftric fluid out of whatever part of the 
metal is touched, the eleftric fluid palling through me- 
tals very freely. 
The metal plate, thus deprived of the eleftric fluid 
crouded upon it, becomes in a negative ftate; but the re- 
pellent power of the eleflric fluid of the cake continuing 
to aft upon the metal plate, forces what remains in it 
towards the farthermofl extremity, fo as to produce 
much the fame ftate as it had before it was put upon the 
cake ; fo that the negative ftate, in which it is in reality, 
cannot appear but when this metal is taken out of the 
preffing aftion of the atmofphere of the cake; and 
therefore the metal plate being removed, by the infu- 
lating handle, from the cake, gives evident figns of hav- 
ing loft a part of its natural fliare of eleftric fluid ; or, in 
other words, of being electrified negatively, the refinous 
cake being more tenacious of the ftate of eleftricity, 
which it had acquired, than the metal plate. 
If the refinous cake be in a ftate of negative eleftricity, 
(which it acquires by a friftion either with a dry hand, a 
piece of leather, or a rough fkin ; or by Aiding the nega- 
6 0 2 tive 
