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I am inclined to believe, from a variety of experiments, thatif we could cause the electric, effluvia to pass with the fame re-gularity along conducting bodies,- as the magnetic particles passfrom iron or steel bars,, our electrical experiments on attractionand repulsion of light bodies would then be. equally clear withour magnetic ones. , Every one acquainted with electric pursuits,is satisfied, that a small Alteration of the state of the air in theroom, breathing on the apparatus, a little more friction, turn-ing the cylinder faster or flower, and many other trifling cir-cumstances, frequently cause a considerable variation in the forceof the electric fluidand, consequently, whenever the strength ofthe electric particles are abated, or their polar parts reversed,-there will be a different appearance, or a languid and feeble at-traction, or repulsion 1 , of light bodies, suspended near the ends ofconducting ^rods for trial..j ..

It will be very difficult, in many instances', to fay when theends of rods, leading from excited or charged electrics, have similaror contrary poles ; and this will frequently puzzle the youngelectrician, in reconciling, seemingly great inconsistencies, which,when the cause is discovered, it will be found they arise from.regular and fixed laws. In magnetic attraction, if the experi-ments‘be varied like these of electric attraction and repulsion, itwill sometimes be difficult to determine, without trial, which is

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the north, or which the south pole of different kinds of iron orsteel bars, suspended from the ends of magnets. ,

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