94 
Annual Report of the 
nothing further would be needed. We express our obligations to 
this paper in what follows. 
The proper object of scientific investigation is the explanation of 
natural phenomena. This consists in a logical reference of these 
phenomena to some general law, or in pointing out the steps by 
which they may be deduced from some principle already established. 
Electricity is subject to laws as definite and uniform in their opera¬ 
tion as any other department ofinature. The general laws which 
govern electrical action are well established, and may be so stated 
as to be readily apprehended. A moderate degree of study and ex¬ 
ercise of the reasoning powers would enable one to understand and 
apply these laws in explanation of most of the electrical phenom¬ 
ena which come under his notice. Besides the satisfaction derived 
from this exercise of the mental faculties, the knowledge thus ob¬ 
tained would be of great practical value. It would enable one to 
anticipate hurtful results and to devise proper means for warding 
off danger. A knowledge of the elementary principles of science— 
now happily within the reach of all—would afford the most effectual 
security against imposture, and form the best antidote for many of 
the evils which afflict society. We bespeak, then, your candid and 
earnest attention to a subject so intimately connected with the se¬ 
curity of your crops and your homes. 
We propose briefly to state the general laws or principles which 
govern electrical action—to point out some of the more important de¬ 
ductions from these principles, and finally to give some practical di¬ 
rections which should be observed in the construction and erection 
of conductors for the protection of property against injury from 
lightning. 
For clearness of apprehension^ we shall, in stating the laws of elec¬ 
trical action, use the language of Du Fay’s theory, which assumes 
that the facts of ordinary electricity may be referred to the action 
of two subtle fluids, called by Du Fay vitrious and resinous , but 
now generally designated as positive and negative. 
To explain electrical phenomena hy the mechanical action of 
these fluids, the theory assumes the following postulates: 
1. These fluids pervade all matter, its particles being so minute 
as to exist between the atoms of gross matter. 
2. The particles of each of these fluids mutually repel each other 
with a force varying inversely as the square of the distance. 
