fmall Quantities of Electricity, i y 
infulating handle, like an eledlrophorus plate, to the electrified 
body, and to touch this plate with a finger for a fliort time 
whilft (landing in that fituation ; which done, the plate is re- 
moved, and is brought near an eledlrometer ; or its eledlricity 
may be communicated to the plate of a fmall condenfer, as 
diredled in the preceding cafe, which will render the eledlricity 
more conlpicuous. It is evident, that in this cafe the metal 
plate will acquire the eledlricity contrary to that of the fub- 
flance in queftion ; but this anfwers the fame puipofe: for if 
the eledlricity of the plate be found to be pofitive, one muft 
conclude, that the electricity of the body in queflion is nega- 
tive, and contrariwife. In this operation, care mufl be had 
not to put the metal plate too near, or in full contadl with the 
fubftance to be examined, left the fridlion, likely to happen 
between the plate and the body, fhould produce feme electri- 
city, the origin of which might be attributed to ether caufes. 
Having thus far deferibed the fureft methods of afeertaining 
the prefence and quality of eledlricity, when its quantity or 
degree of condenfation is fmall, I fhall now beg leave to add 
fome farther remarks on the fubjedl of eledlricity in general, 
and which have been principally fuggefted by what has been 
mentioned in the preceding pages. 
Oil the hypothefis of a tingle eledlric fluid, it is faid, that 
every fubftance in nature, when not eledlrified, contains its 
proper fhare of eledlric fluid, which is proportionate to its bulk, 
or to fome other of its properties ; and it is generally believed, 
that this equal or proportionate diftribution of eledlric fluid 
takes place with the greateft part of natural bodies. However, 
the fadl is far from being fo ; and I may venture to aflert that, 
ftridtly fpeaking, every fubftance is always eledlrified, viz, 
that every fubftance, and even the various parts of the fame 
Vol. LXXV1II. D body, 
