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CHAPTER IV.

The present theory of eleffric at t raff ion, and repulsion, examined-, andit appears by experiments to be erroneous.

I N order to understand the present theory of electric attrac-- tion and repulsion, it will be necessary to explain the prin-cipal properties of electric atmolpheres, and show how they aresupposed to act.

i. 1 An electric atmosphere not only repels another electricatmosphere, but it will also repel the electric matter containedin the substance of a body approaching it, and without joiningor mixing with it, force it to other parts of the body that con-tained this electric fluid.

2. » When two bodies impregnated with homologous electri-cities meet, these electric atmospheres, by means of the circum-ambient air which they actuate, endeavour reciprocally to de-stroy each other.

3. When two bodies possessed of contrary electricities meet,these electric atmospheres, by means of the circumambient air,reciprocally increase their electricities.

4. * The electric fluid proper to a body can neither be aug-mented nor diminished upon the surface of that body, unless;

.--r j. •

‘ Franklin’s Letters, p. 155. '

* Beccaria, p. 186.

* Cavallo, p. 105.

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