358 
ELECTRICITY WITH WHICH THE EARTH IS CHARGED. 
charged, is a continually decreasing quantity, 
the cause of motion in their orbits becomes 
plain and palpable ; they are in effect attracted 
and repelled down an inclined plane by the 
power of electricity. 
6. Earth’s Motion on its Axis.— Hitherto 
we have referred all motion to the agency of 
electricity, as it is developed and exhibited by 
the excitation of electrics ; but that we may 
be enabled todiscern clearly the cause of the 
earth’smotionon her axis, we must refer to the 
galvanic circle, a clear conception of which is 
necessary to a right understanding of this part 
of the theory, Now we hold, that the crust of 
theearlh. sea, and land, is nothing, more or 
less, than a galvanic circle, or, perhaps, more 
correctly, a series of circles, or rather a voltaic 
battery ; but we wish to preserve the idea of 
the simple circle, because it furnishes us with 
a more clear and distinct explanation of the 
cause of the earth’s motion on her axis than the 
voltaic pile. We assume, then, that there is 
a continuous stream of galvanic electricity cir- 
culating throughout the earth’s external 
crust, and that the main currentis round the 
equator ; that the earth's inclination to her 
orbit is determined by the direction of this 
current, and that it has more influence in 
raising the temperature of the climate within 
the tropics than that exerted by the sun’s 
vertical rays.. Now, it is evident, that if the 
galvanic circle were undisturbed, the fluid 
would continue to flow around the earth, and 
the earth would remain at rest ; but the induc- 
tive influence of the sun destroys the equilibrio, 
and the earth revolves. So satisfied are we 
of the truth of this part of our theory, that we 
feel convinced that if a sphere were mounted 
upon two centres, with a galvanic circle formed 
round its equatorial circumference, correctly 
balanced, and placed in a proper position 
between a positive and negative conductor, 
highly charged, the sphere would be found to 
revolve so long as the galvanic action continu- 
ed. And so long as the galvanic action conti- 
nuesin the earth, she will revolve upon her 
axis, and no longer. Upon this principle we 
assume, that the galvanic action in the moon 
has ceased altogether, or become so weak that 
the current cannot overcome the power of the 
earth’s induction; and as the planet .Tupiter 
turns on his axis in ten hours, whilst Mercury 
requires twenty-four hours, we infer from this 
that Jupiter is a good conductor of galvanic 
electricity, whilst in Mercury the fluid flows 
with more difficulty. 
7. We have assumed that the quantity of 
positive electricity with which the earth and 
other planets is charged is a continually de- 
creasing quantiy. Before entering upon this 
proposition we would solicit attention to tlie 
following : — If there could exist a power having 
t/ie property of giving continual impulse to a 
fluid in one constant direction, without being 
exhausted by its own action, it would differ 
essentially from all the other knoton powers in 
nature, all the powers and sources of motion 
with the.operation of which we are acquainted 
when producing their peculiar effects, are 
expended in the same proportion as those effects 
are produced. Now we have laid it down as a 
fundamental law in this theory, that all moti- 
on is effected by the agency of electricity, and 
that the processes of vegetation, oxidation, and 
vitrification, and other processes respectively, 
are carried forward and effected by specifical- 
ly distinct modifications of the electric fluid. 
The effect of electricity in quickening the pro- 
cess of vegetation has been repeatedly verified 
by experiment, and is, therefore, to be consi- 
dered as an established fact in science. If a 
plant contained in a pot be subjected to the 
influence of electricity, the growth will be 
quickened, and the plant will arrive sooner 
to a state of maturity ; on the other hand, if 
the plant be secluded from the influence of 
the sun’s rays, and otherwise insulated as 
much as possible from the electric influence, 
it is found that it cannot be brought to maturi- 
ty by the most careful and elaborate processes 
of art. So essential is electricity, like a quic- 
kening spirit, in laborating and perfecting the 
process of vegetation. The powerful effect 
of voltaic electricity in eroding or oxidising 
metallic substances, is evinced by its action in 
the galvanic circle ; and to prove that its 
power and influence extends over the whole 
range of terrestrial substances, we need only 
refer to the experiments made with the battery 
of the Royal Institution, wherein it was seen, 
that \v hen the fluid was highly concentrated, 
platina melted in it as wax in the flame of a 
candle ; some of the more refractory substances, 
as quartz, the sapphire, magnesia, and lime, 
all entered into fusion ; fragments of diamond, 
points of charcoal, and plumbago, quickly 
disappeared, and seemed converted into 
vapour. Now, as the sources of motion are 
exhausted in the same proportion as the effects 
they produce, if this rule be applicable to 
voltaic electricity, we are justified in the 
inference, that the earth’s galvanic influence 
vvill exhaust itself. We make no attempt to 
limit the extent of its duration, or to fix the 
number of galvanic circles that may be formed 
successively, as each of the preceeding is 
exhausted ; all that we mean to infer is, that 
in every successive action the elements 
become changed in their chemical and 
electrical properties and affinities, and render- 
ed incapable of being acted upon again under 
the former circumstances ; and that when the 
whole round of chemico-electrical processes 
shall have been operated, chemical action 
will cease, the galvanic circle will be incom- 
plete, and the earth, like the moon, will cease 
to revolve on her axis. It is further assumed, 
that in proportion as the voltaic electricity 
circulating within the <rust of the earth 
proceeds in oxidising and vitrifying the 
various conducting substances on v'hich it 
operates, the earth’s affinity for electricity is 
weakened ; and as the internal fluid is con- 
tinually being evolved by the internal action, 
whilst the capacity of the earth for attracting 
and retaining the electric fluid is becoming 
feeble in a corresponding degree, and conse- 
quently, the earth is approximating nearer 
and nearer to a negative state, and is, there- 
fore, attracted nearer and nearer to the sun, 
until it ultimately falls back into the sun, 
a worn-out and exhausted planet. All this 
