184 
which was near it, for there was a little ring of glass surrounding the half 
crown to the distance of one-fourth of an inch which was quite dry, as well 
as that part of the glass which was immediately under the half crown; it 
seemed as if the silver had repelled the water to that distance. 
SIXTH EXPERIMENT. 
A large red wafer had the same effect as the half crown; it was neither 
wetted itself, nor was the ring of glass contiguous to it wetted. A circle of 
white paper produced the same effect, so did several other substances, which 
it would be tedious to enumerate. 
These phenomena, respecting the different disposition of different bodies 
to attract the rising vapour, are similar to what others have taken notice of 
concerning the falling of dew, and are, probably, to be explained upon the 
same principles. 
SEVENTH EXPERIMENT. 
Muschenbroek placed on the leaden terrace of the Observatory at Utrecht, 
vessels of glass, china, varnished wood, polished brass, and pewter: he found 
that in the course of a night the glass, china, and varnished wood, had col¬ 
lected a great abundance of dew, but that not a drop had fallen on any of the 
polished metals. M^. du Pay likewise exposed to the air, when the dew was 
falling, two large funnels, one made of glass, the other of polished pewter; 
the necks of the funnels being inserted into vessels proper to retain any 
moisture which might be collected by them; he sometimes found in the 
morning that the vessel under the glass funnel contained an ounce or more 
of water, but he never observed so much as a single drop in the other. 
CONCLUSION. 
Hence the effects of dews, and of thunder showers, confirm yet more 
the prevailing opinion, that electricity accelerates the evolution and growth 
of seeds. 
