the weakeji Natural or Artificial Electricity. xxiii 
when it comes to he contracted into a Smaller bulk; and alio 
why a long extended conductor will (hew a lei's inteniity than a 
more compact one, luppoling that their quantity of fur face 
and of electricity is the lame ; hecauie the homologous atmo- 
fpheres of their parts interfere Ids with each other in the 
former than in the latter cafe. 
40. Secondly, Let the preceding experiment he repeated 
with this variation only, viz. that one of the fiat conductors 
be elcCtrihed positively, and the other negatively : the effeCts 
then will he juft the reverie of the preceding, viz. the inten- 
iity of their electricities will be diminished, hecauie their capa- 
cities areincreafed the nearer the conductors come to each other. 
41. Let us now apply the explanation of this laid experi- 
ment to the other experiment mentioned in §38. viz. that of 
bringing the eleCtrified metal plate towards a conducting plane 
which is not infulated ; for as this plane acquires a contrary 
eleCtricity, it follows, that the inteniity of the metal plate’s 
eLCtricity mult he diminished ; hence the annexed electrometer 
is deprefled according as the capacity of the plate is increafedy 
and consequently the plate in that cafe may receive a greater 
quantity of eleCtricity. 
42. This matter may he rendered Still more clear by infu- 
lating the conducting plane, whilft the other eleCtrified plate is 
upon it, and afterwards feparating them ;• for then both the 
metal plate and the conducting plane (which may he callfed the 
inferior plane) will he found eleCtrified, hut pofleffed of con- 
trary electricities, as may he afeertainefi by ele& rometers. 
43. If the inferior plane is infulated" firft, and' then the 
eleCtrified plate is brought over it, then the latter will caule 
an endeavour in the former to acquire a contrary eleCtricity, 
which, however, the infulation prevents from taking place ; 
hence the inteniity of the eleCtricity of the plate is not dimi- 
nilhed, at leaft the electrometer will fhew a- very little and 
almoft imperceptible depreSfion, which fmall depreffion isowing, 
to the imperfection of the infulation of the inferior plane, and 
to the fmall rarefaCtion and condenfation of the eleCtric fluid,, 
which may take place in different parts of the faid inferior 
