,,an ,,essay ,,to ,,shew ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,electricity2 ,,and ,why ,some ,things are ,non-,electricable4 ,in which is also ,consider'd ,its ,influence in the ,blasts on ,human ,bodies1 in the ,blights on ,trees1 in the ,damps in ,mines2 and as it may affect the ,sensitive ,plant1 c4 ,in a ,,letter ,to ,mr4 ,,william ,,watson1 ,f4,r4,s4 ,by ,,john ,,freke1 ,surgeon to ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,hospital1 ,london1 ,f4,r4,s4 ,naturam expellas furc1 tamen usque recurret4 ,the ,,second ,,edition3 ,with an ,,appendix4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,w4 ,,innys1 in ,pater-noster ,row4 ,,mdccxlvi4 ,price ,one ,shilling4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,to ,,martin ,,folkes1 ,esq2 ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,society4 ,,sir1 ,those who have the ,honour of your ,acquaintance1 and thence know your many excellent ,qualifications1 must applaud my ,choice in dedicating this small ,piece to you2 whose ,name1 if there be any ,merit in the ,performance1 will1 before any other1 add a ,lustre to it4 ,i am1 with the highest ,esteem1 ,your most ,obliged1 ,humble ,servant1 ,,john ,,freke4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,the ,,preface4 ,when ,i first enter'd on this ,subject of ,electricity1 ,i intended only to put some ,thoughts in ,writing concerning it1 that ,i might the more easily convey them to the ,understandings of such as ,i hoped would be more likely than ,i should be to go farther with it4 ,and as nobody1 either here or abroad1 had published any thing touching the ,cause from which it was produc'd1 ,i chose to shew the ,beginning ,i had made to some ,friends1 whose ,opinion concerning ,natural ,knowlege ,i had a great ,reliance on4 ,i told them1 ,i thought my ,difficulty would be to convey what ,i had to propound on this new ,subject to them with the necessary ,clearness1 as my ,intention was to observe the utmost ,brevity in it4 ,after ,i had read it to them1 they assured me that what ,i had written was perfectly intelligible2 and that it gave them many new ,ideas respecting this ,phnomenon2 and were very earnest with me to print it1 for the sake of the ,publick4 ,i was not1 however1 inclined to comply with their ,requests1 till ,i had shewn it to a ,person who is most justly distinguish'd for his great ,candor1 and superlative ,understanding in all ,natural ,knowlege2 and he likewise having express'd his ,wishes to see it in ,print1 ,i could not but look on his ,desire as a ,command4 ,if what ,i have here undertaken to shew should enlighten the ,minds of any of my ,readers1 or if it should so far awaken the ,attention of others1 as to make them give better ,reasons for the ,operation of this ,power of ,electricity than ,i have done1 ,i shall not account the ,time ill spent1 which ,i have employ'd on this interesting ,subject3 ,a ,subject which can1 with more ,nobleness and ,dignity employ the ,mind of ,man1 than any ,i can think of relating to the sublunary ,part of this ,world4 ,for by it you may be acquainted with the immediate ,officer of ,god ,almighty1 which he seems to send to all ,things living4 ,nay1 this ,power1 according to my ,conception1 seems to be the ,cause1 under ,,him1 both of ,life and ,death4 ,and when it may be more fully understood1 it may afford us ,means whereby we may be better enabled to reason more intelligibly than now we can1 concerning various ,operations in ,nature4 ,i am very sensible what ,tribute a new ,author is liable to pay to ,criticks3 ,i know it is too common to find much too large a ,part of them inclin'd to look into a ,book for its ,faults1 rather than for its ,use2 and are more ready to pull down1 than they have ,abilities to put any thing in its ,place4 ,but as ,i am not writing this for any ,gain to myself1 but the ,pleasure of informing1 if ,i can1 the ,minds of such as may be informed by it1 ,i chuse rather to stand their ,censure1 than deny the ,publick what may possibly be the ,beginning of much ,good4 ,it is very probable1 that those who pretend to know every thing1 will be so good as to say1 if they like what ,i have advanc'd1 that it squares exactly with what they thought before concerning it3 ,and those who set up for ,criticks will try their ,hands at this ,performance1 and1 if they can1 will condemn it4 ,it would be a great ,wonder1 indeed1 if this should escape the ,censure of some1 when the great ,dr4 ,harvey had his implacable ,adversaries to his ,account of the ,circulation of the ,blood2 and even ,sir ,isaac ,newton met with ,opponents to several of his ,theorys4 ,what ,i have said opposes no one's ,scheme1 that ,i know of2 it offers no ,sentiments which can hurt any ,man4 ,i have advanc'd only ,conjectures for the clearing those ,truths ,i would establish2 and if1 after all1 what appears reasonable to me should not appear so to others1 ,i cannot help it3 ,for it is impossible for all ,men to see the same ,thing in one and the same ,light1 even though they were ,men of the best ,erudition4 ,i would hope1 that what ,i have undertaken to shew1 is what all sensible ,men would be glad to have shewn4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,an ,,essay ,to ,shew ,from what ,,causes ,electricity is ,produced1 c4 ,kind ,sir1 ,when ,i reflect on the great ,ingenuity you have shewn1 in your ,apparatus for the ,improvement of the ,knowlege of ,electricity1 and how industrious and kind you have been in communicating the many ,experiments you have made to your ,friends and ,acquaintance relating thereto1 ,i was in hopes1 from you or some of them1 an ,essay would be made ere this1 not only to go farther with these ,experiments1 but to give some tolerable ,conjecture from whence this ,fire1 and astonishing ,effect1 is produced4 ,i was going to give you my ,thoughts concerning it1 when ,i last saw you at ,child's ,coffee-house2 but1 on ,reflection1 ,i chose rather to do it in ,writing3 ,for1 in all ,novelty1 till the ,relater is quite understood1 ,words are forgotten easily2 but ,things of this sort in ,writing may again and again be consider'd4 ,to begin then3 ,in order to shew whence this electrical ,fire and ,force is produc'd1 ,i will first endeavour to prove1 that it arises not from any of the ,apparatus itself2 not either from the glass ,ball1 nor the ,leather1 nor from the ,tube1 or ,hand that rubs it3 ,because nothing we know of can send out of it a ,quantity of ,matter1 but there must be less of that ,matter remaining1 after it has been so discharged2 whereas it cannot be shewn1 but that the ,ball of ,glass1 after ever so many ,times using1 remains as fit for the same ,use as at first4 ,having1 from ,probability1 ,i think1 shewn1 that the ,fire and ,force1 here treated of1 come not from the ,apparatus1 it is natural for me to suppose they are produced from the ,air they are mov'd in4 ,and ,i believe this ,notion will not appear trifling1 when we consider1 that the most ancient and ablest ,philosophers have look'd upon the ,animal and ,vegetable ,world as actuated by ,fire2 and that they are nourish'd by ,water1 and what it contains4 ,if this be allow'd1 then the ,air1 which is esteem'd the ,pabulum ,vit1 from its rubefying the ,blood of all ,animals in ,respiration1 seems to be universally impregnated with this ,fire4 ,and tho' there is not enough of it so dispersed as to hurt the ,animals in ,respiration1 yet ,i can suppose it as universally dispersed1 as ,i can a small ,quantity of any ,liquor dropp'd in ,water1 which1 when so dispersed1 is of no ,harm to a ,patient1 though a few ,drops of it by themselves would have been certain ,death4 ,and yet1 if you farther consider it so dispersed1 you cannot consider one ,particle of the ,water without a ,particle of the ,medicine3 ,just so it may be with the ,fire of this lower ,region1 or1 what ,i chuse rather to call it1 this ,flamma ,vitalis4 ,i proceed now to consider1 how this ,fire1 so dispersed1 may be collected2 and have given to it1 in electrical ,experiments1 a ,force equal to1 and of the same ,nature with1 ,lightning4 ,to make this ,conjecture the more easily apprehended1 ,i will suppose1 that the ,nature of ,fire is as similar to its ,parts1 and they have as great a ,propensity to adhere to one another1 as we find the different ,arrangements in all natural ,bodies have2 as may be seen in ,gems1 in ,water1 and in the various ,strata of the ,earth1 and the like4 ,do but force or invite these fiery ,particles to a closer ,contact than they have been supposed to be in1 when uniformly dispersed through all ,nature1 and they are ,lightning1 or a ,fire of less ,force1 as more or less ,parts of that ,fire are got together4 ,to illustrate this1 wax a small ,thread1 or slide a ,rope swiftly thro' your ,fingers1 and you are liable to burn them3 ,which probably arises from their grinding in1 betwixt your ,fingers and the ,rope1 so many more ,particles of ,fire than naturally come together when left to float in the ,air4 ,if this ,reasoning be allow'd to be just 7which it must be1 till it is overturn'd by stronger ,reasoning71 then it follows1 that the ,air1 which is violently ground or rubb'd betwixt your ,hand and a glass ,tube1 or betwixt a glass ,ball whirl'd briskly1 and rubb'd with a ,piece of ,leather1 as they are used in electrical ,experiments1 ,i say1 the ,air1 so rubb'd1 may leave behind it that ,quantity of agitated ,fire which causes ,electricity4 ,for1 suppose the ,ball or ,tube inveloped with a ,quantity of this ,fire moving spirally round them1 with the utmost ,velocity2 and it can no more depart from its ,company than you find ,sparks of ,fire which fly from ,steel on a ,knife-grinder's ,wheel are liable to do4 ,every body almost can remember to have seen them adhere to the ,wheel1 and frequently pursue each other quite round it4 ,those who try these ,experiments1 find1 that in moist ,weather this ,power is less attainable than in a more clear ,day2 and therefore some may be liable to attribute that to the ,apparatus1 which may be better accounted for by the watry ,particles in the ,air2 which may be liable to hinder the lambent ,flame1 by me supposed to be universally scatter'd1 from uniting1 by the ,friction before-mention'd4 ,as ,i have mention'd ,friction1 ,i cannot help observing how unphilosophical and unmeaning it is1 for any one to advance1 that ,fire is caused by ,friction2 when ,i think he may as well say1 that ,water is caused by ,pumping4 ,we know1 that a ,cart or ,coach-,wheel1 for ,want of ,grease1 by ,friction will be set on ,fire2 and ,fire-,canes1 rubbed together smartly1 will take ,fire2 but neither of these1 ,i believe1 nor any thing else1 will beget or generate the ,element of ,fire4 ,they must either collect it out of the ,air1 or else it must be lodged within them1 as we find it to be in ,steel in an eminent ,degree3 ,for1 if you drop the ,filings of ,steel through the ,flame of a ,candle1 it sends out the most fierce ,fire of any thing in ,nature4 ,the ,reason to be given why a greater ,quantity of ,fire is produced from ,steel-,filings1 than from any other ,thing1 ,i take to be owing to a larger ,share of that ,element which is impacted in it from its being made out of ,iron long impregnated with ,fire4 ,many other ,bodies have actual ,fire impacted in them1 as ,flints1 and many other hard ,stones and ,metals2 but whenever you produce ,fire from ,steel-,filings1 you find that ,steel melted3 ,so when ,fire is produced from ,stones1 and the like1 each ,spark is ,part of that ,stone burnt to a ,calx4 ,now1 as ,i am endeavouring to shew to you the natural ,cohesion of ,fire1 and the ,propensity there is in it to extend itself1 ,i shall offer to your ,consideration a very familiar ,instance to prove it2 which is that of the ,snuff of a ,candle just blown out4 ,you cannot but have observ'd at how great a ,distance from the ,snuff the ,flame will descend down the ,smoke1 and light it4 ,i shall further take the ,liberty to observe to you another ,proof of this2 which1 ,i think1 will not only shew a ,propensity in ,fire to cohere1 but will greatly strengthen my ,conjecture1 that this ,fire1 produced in ,electricity1 is extracted from that ,i have supposed to be universally dispersed4 ,a ,person1 who liv'd in the ,town of ,warham in ,dorsetshire1 in the ,year #agjc1 informed me1 that in the ,night of the great ,hurricane and high ,wind1 in the strongest ,part of the ,tempest1 he saw from his ,window1 on the neighbouring ,hills1 great ,bodies of ,fire1 swiftly passing over them on the ,ground4--,now whence arose that ,fire1 if it came not from the ,air impelling it into those ,flakes8 ,and its subsisting together in that ,hurricane shews1 ,i think1 very plainly1 that if its ,cohesion had not been natural1 the ,wind would then have scatter'd it4 ,though ,i apprehend that the ,four ,elements of ,fire1 ,water1 ,earth1 and ,air1 may never have been increased or diminished1 since the ,great ,,god of ,order created them1 yet ,i can also apprehend each of them unequally dispers'd in the ,universe by various ,causes and ,events3 ,and when this happens1 those which were intended1 when in their due ,order1 to make every thing happy and easy1 in their disordered ,state will create nothing but ,confusion4 ,for ,instance1 the chief ,use of ,water seems intended1 when descending in warm and gentle ,showers1 or flowing in kind and easy ,streams1 to chear and nourish all ,kinds of ,vegetation1 as well in ,trees and ,plants1 as in ,herbs and ,flowers3 ,but suppose1 by the ,contrivance of ,man1 or by the ,accidents of ,nature1 a large ,quantity of it lodged on the ,tops of high ,hills1 if it breaks its ,bank1 it will never stop1 till it finds a natural resting ,place2 and in its ,torrent it will overwhelm and destroy those ,trees and ,plants1 with the ,herbs and ,flowers1 it was intended to nourish4 ,the like may be said of the ,fire1 which ,i have been supposing uniformly dispersed over the ,creation2 which1 if its ,properties are to invigorate all ,nature1 you must of course suppose its ,power not to be controul'd2 but that it passes through all the ,animal1 ,mineral1 and ,vegetable ,creation1 whilst they stand in need of ,life1 or any ,increase4 ,but as ,i have been conjecturing what different ,purposes ,water in its disorder'd ,state may produce1 so the same ,consideration may be had concerning ,fire in its disorder'd ,state3 ,when too much of it is brought together1 either by the ,contrivance of ,man1 or by the ,disorders in the other ,elements2 is it not reasonable to suppose1 that it will1 according to its natural ,appointment1 get about its ,business1 and break as soon as it can from its ,confinement8 ,a very learned and eminent ,author1 who is now living1 says1 8,that all ,life1 whether it be vegetable1 sensitive1 or animal1 is only a kindled ,fire of ,life in such a ,variety of ,states3 ,and every dead insensitive ,thing is only so because its ,fire is quenched40 ,it had been impossible that this wonderful ,phnomenon of ,electricity should ever have been discover'd1 if there had not been such ,things as are non-electricable4 ,for1 as fast as this ,fire had been driven on any thing1 its next ,neighbour would have carried it further3 ,but1 when it was most wonderfully found out1 that any thing which was suspended in a silk ,cord 7that being a ,non-electricable7 was obliged to retain the ,fire1 which by electrical ,force was driven on it2 and when1 moreover1 it appeared1 that any ,person or ,thing being placed on a ,cake of ,bees-wax 7which also is a ,non-electricable71 it could no more part with its ,fire1 than when suspended in a silk ,cord1 ,i think it will become worth ,inquiry1 why they are not electricable4 ,to prove this1 ,i would reflect upon the ,passage before-quoted3 ,for from thence ,i think it must follow1 that if ,fire be the ,cause of the ,life and ,increase in any thing1 then1 whatever ceases to be in a ,state of ,life or ,increase1 can no longer be supposed to be capable of them2 and therefore must be consider'd as a ,caput ,mortuum4 ,of this sort are ,bees-wax and ,silk1 both being non-electricable4 ,to pursue this kind of ,reasoning concerning them3 ,they are1 in truth1 the ,excrements only from those ,beings which once had ,life in them2 the ,wax being the excrementitious ,matter from ,bees1 which1 when made1 was to be capable of no further ,increase or ,addition to its ,nature3 ,for1 as its primitive ,use was only intended to make ,combs or ,cells to preserve the ,honey through the different ,changes of the ,season1 so if this ,wax had been liable to ,alterations from this ,fire 7as all ,things which are endued with it are7 then the ,cells would not have remained so intire as the wonderful ,architects left them4 ,as concerning the ,silk1 ,i look on it as an excrementitious ,matter also2 designed by ,,god ,almighty 7who makes nothing in vain7 to become a ,capsula or ,coffin to preserve the ,insect in it safely1 for such a ,season as was intended it should remain there4 ,all resinous ,bodies are likewise non-electricable2 which ,i think will tend rather to prove my ,conjecture to be true than false3 ,for1 are there such ,things as ,pitch or ,resin in ,nature8 ,are they not made out of the ,juice of ,plants8 ,which ,plants1 whilst they remained in the ,life of ,nature1 had nothing but their unalter'd ,juice in them4 ,pitch and ,resin became so by ,art2 and therefore no ,time or ,chance can give an ,increase to their ,quantity3 ,from whence they may be supposed not to be in the ,course of ,nature4 ,i am aware what ,objection this is liable to2 for1 though it must be acknowleg'd that these ,things are non-electricable1 it may be asked1 ,if they are not the most inflammable ,things that can be imagined1 and1 consequently1 susceptible of ,fire2 because ,candles are made out of ,wax1 and ,torches out of ,pitch and ,resin8 ,to which ,i answer1 ,that here it may be necessary to inquire1 what occasions this ,flame1 which is produced either from the ,candle or ,torch8 ,can this ,flame subsist one ,moment1 without the ,passage of ,air through it8 ,i answer1 ,no4 ,well then1 as this ,treatise is not intended merely to state ,facts1 but to account for the ,nature of them1 by the best ,conjectures ,i can make1 pray why does ,air keep this ,flame subsisting8 ,if you will suppose1 with me1 that the ,cause of all ,heat1 and the ,appearance of all ,fire in the ,world1 is collected out of this universal ,element of ,fire2 which1 perhaps1 will never increase nor diminish2 it being dispersed where it is most invited2 if therefore1 ,i say1 you will suppose with me1 that this ,air1 which is full of a lambent ,flame1 when it has been invited by the ,property supposed to be in it1 that the biggest ,body congregates the less2 from these ,considerations1 ,i think it may be supposed1 that the ,flame of ,fire is produced out of the ,air1 only2 the ,wax or ,resin being a fatty sulphureous ,matter1 which1 as ,coals1 may likewise be supposed to serve as a ,pabulum1 fitly adapted only to let this ,element pass through it1 for the ,purposes here described4 ,the more of the ,air that passes through them1 the quicker they burn2 as when the ,snuff of a ,candle is taken off1 which hindered the ,quantity to pass thro' it1 it increases the ,flame2 though1 before1 the same ,materials were employ'd4 ,the same may be said of clearing the ,ashes from1 and stirring the ,fire2 which impeded the ,quantity of ,air from leaving its ,fire behind1 in its ,passage through the ,coals4 ,if the ,wax had any ,inherency of ,fire in its ,nature1 ,why1 if you turn a lighted ,candle downwards1 does the ,wax extinguish the ,flame8 ,if this my ,conjecture be difficultly conceiv'd1 pray let me farther ask1 ,why does a ,candle1 which is lighted1 and let down into a ,mine where there is a ,damp1 go out8 ,in a large ,mine there is ,space enough surely for a ,candle to burn in1 if there had been enough of that ,pabulum ,vit left in the stagnated ,air which occupy'd that large ,cavern4 ,now1 if you will suppose1 with me1 that this ,air had been robb'd of its ,fire1 by its supporting and keeping alive such ,things under-ground as its ,business is to do every-where1 and that ,space was left full of stagnated ,air1 and therefore could not admit of fresh to enter1 it became impossible for ,fire1 or any living ,creature1 to subsist there4 ,the ,cure of this ,evil is performed in ,mines by a ,horse-,mill1 which works large ,bellows1 that drive fresh ,air down a ,shaft made for that ,purpose4 ,i remember ,dr4 ,halley told me1 that he once try'd the ,experiment of making a factitious ,damp2 which he did1 by exhausting the ,air out of the ,receiver of an ,air-,pump1 and then luting to a ,stop-cock a ,gun-barrel2 the other ,end of which he put into a ,charcoal-,fire1 and with the ,air1 which pass'd thro' the ,fire1 he fill'd the ,receiver again2 he told me that it instantly kill'd a ,mouse he put into it1 and many other ,animals1 just as ,damps did3 ,now how will you account for this1 if you suppose not that its ,fire was extinguish'd1 and carried from it another ,way8 ,having thus far1 ,i hope1 prepared your ,mind to understand what ,i apprehend the ,element of ,fire is1 and what its ,office seems to be1 ,i will shew1 if ,i can1 ,first1 ,why1 in ,electricity1 ,fire proceeds from an electrical ,body1 so as to light into a ,flame many different ,compositions4 ,secondly1 ,why a ,tube of ,glass1 when rubbed so as to be made electrical1 will not only attract to it1 but repel from it alternately1 any light ,body1 as ,leaf-,gold1 ,feathers1 and the like3 ,and also1 why it will seem to send from it a ,quantity of ,wind1 with a singing small ,noise1 if you hold it nigh to your ,cheek and ,ear4 ,thirdly1 ,why1 when any unelectrify'd ,body touches any thing electrify'd1 the ,electricity breaks off with a smart ,crack1 and a ,spark of ,fire4 ,fourthly1 ,why a ,number of ,men1 who are joined together by holding any metallic ,body betwixt them1 if one of them touch a ,piece of ,iron electrify'd1 the whole ,company shall feel a violent ,concussion1 in proportion to the ,largeness of the ,body electrify'd4 ,first1 ,i will endeavour to shew1 ,why an electrify'd ,body will kindle an ,alcohol1 or rectify'd ,spirit of ,wine1 and many other compounded ,liquors1 into a ,flame4 ,after having attempted to prove to you1 that the ,cause of ,electricity arises from the universal ,fire scatter'd through all ,nature1 by its being rubb'd together in its ,passage betwixt a glass ,ball and a ,piece of ,leather1 c4 ,i hope ,i shall make it appear1 that it passes from thence1 to the ,body electrify'd1 in a converging and diverging ,state2 just as a ,lens converges and diverges the ,rays of ,light which pass through it3 ,and that all ,bodies electrify'd are shut up in a ,capsula or ,covering of this electric ,matter1 or lambent ,flame1 which not only passes over it about half an ,inch thick1 but pervades also every ,part and ,particle of ,matter which constitutes that ,body2 which it may as easily do1 if it consisted of many ,tons ,weight1 as soon1 and from the same ,necessity1 as it would do to one of an ,inch ,diameter3 ,and that the electrify'd ,body is intirely seal'd up at each ,extremity4 ,to shew this ,fire in a converging ,state1 you may observe1 when a ,gun-barrel1 or any long ,bar of ,iron1 is to be electrify'd1 and it is in a ,state of ,suspension on silk ,cords1 which are non-electricable1 you may perceive the ,fire issue from a ,piece of iron ,wire coming from the glass ,ball1 in a lambent ,flame1 which draws to a ,point1 and then diverges1 and drives itself on1 till the ,gun-barrel1 or ,bar1 is electrify'd4 ,its being a ,gun-barrel can be no other ,reason for its ,preference in that ,shape than in another2 but ,i believe the ,occasion of its being used here is1 because the greatest ,effect which has been shewn from ,electricity1 was sent from abroad2 and that was caused by suspending a great ,gun in a non-electricable silk ,cord4 ,the ,gun seems to have been made use of here as being the greatest ,quantity of ,iron1 and in the best ,shape1 they could get it for ,suspension4 ,and were a ,person so suspended1 if he held in his ,hand a naked ,sword1 you might see such a lambent ,flame passing from it1 in a converging and diverging ,state1 as before describ'd4 ,i would further prove this converging ,fire1 from a late ,experiment ,i have heard of1 which is as follows3 ,if you suspend an iron ,ball by a large ,piece of ,wire1 which descends from a ,bar of ,iron electrify'd1 and then hold under it1 in a ,saucer1 some small round ,bubbles of ,glass1 near enough to be in ,contact with the electrical ,vortex1 the glass ,balls will follow each other round in the ,saucer2 and each of these ,balls1 if the ,experiment be made in the dark1 will appear to have a ,spot of blue ,flame at each ,end of them4 ,now1 as1 by the ,contrivance of ,man1 here is more of this ,fire crouded together1 than was intended by the ,author of all ,uniformity1 seeing1 by its natural ,cohesion1 and the infinite ,celerity it is spirally driven on with1 it is no ,wonder1 in this confined ,state1 if that1 which1 as ,water unconfin'd1 would be gentle and beneficent1 should1 with all the ,power that belongs to it1 break out at the first ,door which is opened for its ,passage from this tortur'd ,state4 ,it is no ,wonder1 therefore1 that all undisorder'd ,nature should be equally electrify'd3 ,for how is it possible to have it otherwise8 since1 if a ,person stands on the ,ground1 and touches but the ,capsula before he touches the ,body1 the electric ,fire starts through him into the ,ground1 as swift as ,lightning1 and thence into the universal lambent ,flame1 from whence it was taken4 ,lightning from hence may in some measure be accounted for2 though ,i cannot so exactly tell what collects it together1 as ,i can in this factitious ,lightning here treated of1 yet ,i can suppose1 that the ,cause of ,lightning is produc'd from a great ,quantity of this ,fire before spoken of2 which being driven together1 and included in a limited ,state1 or ,covering of some ,kind1 when discharged from this ,covering1 it goes off in an ,explosion1 which is ,thunder4 ,the ,lightning ,i need not describe1 being intirely the same with ,electricity2 for it will kill without a ,wound1 and pass through every thing1 as this seems to do4 ,i am to shew1 first1 the ,cause of its kindling a ,flame in certain compounded ,liquors2 which1 if what ,i have supposed be true1 that it is by the means spoken of that this ,fire is collected and driven on1 as ,i have said1 it is plain to be seen1 that at the ,finger's ,end of a ,person electrify'd1 or at the ,end of a ,sword1 held as before described1 being in a dark ,room1 a ,flame issues from them3 ,it is no ,wonder then1 that an inflammable ,spirit1 as is shewn1 should take ,fire from it4 ,the second ,thing ,i proposed to shew is1 ,why a ,tube of ,glass1 rubb'd smartly in the ,hand1 so as to become electrical1 repels ,leaf-,gold1 ,feathers1 and other small ,bodies2 and when they touch any less electrify'd ,body1 they shall return back again to the ,tube1 and so vice versa4 ,now1 if what ,i have been saying be true1 how can this ,phnomenon be otherwise8 ,for1 if that ,piece of ,leaf-,gold1 c4 be electrify'd by the ,touch of the ,tube1 then it has as full ,power given to it as the electrify'd ,body had to give to it3 ,and when the ,gold1 c4 touches any other ,body1 it imparts to it so much of its electrical ,property as it had in itself3 ,and then it may be consider'd in the same ,state it was in when first electrify'd3 ,and so it will be repeatedly attracted to it1 and be repell'd toties quoties4 ,but it may be asked1 ,what causes these attractive and repulsive ,faculties8 ,i answer1 ,the ,attraction of fiery ,particles one to another3 ,for1 if all ,nature be agitated by this ,fire1 all ,things have it in the common ,proportion1 as it was intended they should stand in ,nature4 ,and therefore1 as ,i have endeavoured to shew1 that ,electricity is occasioned by crouding on any thing more of this ,fire and ,force than naturally belonged to it2 and as the ,flame of a ,candle must of ,necessity send out of it at its ,point an ,overplus 7without which there could be no ,succession or free ,motion in its ,flame72 so1 for the same ,reason1 the ,redundancy of what is crouded on may be consider'd as spending itself at each ,extremity1 that it may thereby reach itself out to any thing1 and invite it to it2 as ,i have shewn the ,flame descending down the ,smoak of a ,candle just blown out to kindle it again1 will do4 ,as therefore there is a trite ,proverb1 passing universally1 that where there is ,smoak there must be some ,fire1 ,i will endeavour to prove1 ,that no ,heat1 either from ,animals1 or from any other ,cause1 can be produced but from this supposed ,fire ,i have been speaking of4 ,for1 now1 suppose you see the ,flame of a ,candle circumscribed and limited in its ,shape and ,size1 which it has according to its ,snuff2 this ,thought may serve to illustrate what ,i mean by the ,capsula1 which ,i have supposed passing over the ,surface of every ,body when it is electrify'd1 and seems to be a lambent ,flame1 being more or less thick1 as from the ,apparatus more or less ,fire has been collected and rubbed together on it1 either from the ,friction of a glass ,tube1 or the ,globe3 ,now1 as what ,i am about to shew1 is1 why this attractive ,faculty is found in this ,experiment1 ,i would offer to your ,consideration1 ,whether1 when common ,people see the ,flame of a ,candle circumscrib'd1 they think of any ,fire which may proceed further than in the ,flame of that ,candle8 ,yet every body1 on ,recollection1 knows1 that the ,flame will heat ,parts at a great ,distance to such a ,degree1 as1 at length1 to kindle them into a ,fire4 ,and tho'1 till you touch the ,flame1 your ,finger is not immediately burn'd1 yet there are shewn to be ,emanations of ,fire at a ,distance from its burning ,quality4 ,so here ,i beg ,leave to consider the same ,property in this ,fire occasion'd by ,electricity4 ,for1 till you touch this ,capsula of lambent ,flame 7which is commonly to be met with near a ,quarter of to ,half an ,inch short of the ,body to be electrify'd7 no ,effect is perceiv'd1 because you have not enter'd into the ,vortex of this ,whirlpool of ,fire3 ,yet you may suppose that it sends out an ,emanation of its ,fire beyond it1 as other ,flames do2 which1 when it has first1 by its ,heat1 7which ,i take to be ,part of it7 prepared small ,things to be electrify'd1 then they are more easily lick'd into the whole ,power1 and so become electrify'd4 ,the ,reason therefore1 why the ,gold1 and other light ,materials1 7which ,i have supposed to have some of this ,fire in them7 are attracted1 is1 the ,invitation they receive from the curling ,effluvia to a closer ,contact3 ,and when it has received as much as the former can give it1 its ,invitation ceases1 till it has parted with what it had to its ,neighbour2 and then it is again invited as before4 ,i come now to consider the ,violence of this ,fire2 which1 passing thro' the ,pores of the glass ,tube1 may1 as the ,sound of ,organ-,pipes1 which proceeds only from their differently modifying the ,air1 cause the various hissing ,noises you hear when the ,tube is held nigh the ,ear1 from the ,electricity passing through the different shaped ,pores of it4 ,and furthermore the ,wind may seem to arise1 from the distant ,parts of the electrical ,force playing at some ,space from the ,tube2 which thereby agitate and fan the ambient ,air1 so as to make it feel like ,wind4 ,the third ,thing ,i proposed to shew1 is1 ,why the electrical ,power departs from one ,thing to another by giving a smart ,crack1 and send-out a ,spark1 which will set on fire many very inflammable ,liquors4 ,now1 7as ,i have1 ,i hope1 demonstrated7 when this ,fire of ,electricity is issuing out at a ,point into an inflammable ,spirit1 it can be no ,wonder1 that the ,spirit1 which is known to be full of ,fire1 should unite its ,fire to that of ,electricity4 ,as to the ,crack it gives when this ,fire passes away3 ,as all ,sounds are occasioned only by the ,air's being put into a different ,modification1 it is here natural to suppose1 that as the ,cracking of a ,whip is caused by the smart ,stroke at the ,point of it on the ,air1 so1 in this ,case1 the ,air seems to be agitated in the same manner1 by breaking the ,continuity of it1 whereby the like ,sound is perceiv'd4 ,the next ,thing ,i propose to account for1 is1 ,why a ,company of unelectrify'd ,persons1 who are joined together by their holding each a ,piece of iron ,wire betwixt them1 tho' they are ever so many1 do all receive a violent ,blow or ,concussion on their ,bodies1 when one of them touches a ,piece of electrify'd ,iron4--,i think this ,experiment may be carried so far1 that1 as it has been found already sufficient to kill ,birds1 and hurt many ,persons very grievously1 it may have ,force enough given to it to kill a ,man1 as effectually as the ,darting of ,lightning can do4 ,for if you consider1 that you may as effectually electrify one ,quantity of ,iron as another1 that it may be done to many ,ton ,weight as easily as to a small ,piece1 and that1 when it departs into a ,person1 all the ,power given to it1 not only on its ,surface1 but intimately thro' every ,pore and ,particle of it1 darts like ,lightning from the ,point only it was touch'd in2 then further think1 that if this ,repercussion1 or infinite ,recoil1 from so large and solid a ,body1 be so great1 when its ,power is thus sent1 what may it not do in its utmost ,extent8 ,having now1 ,i think1 gone thro' what ,i propos'd to shew1 and given a ,reason1 as far as my ,conjecture reaches1 for every ,phnomenon which ,i have seen or heard of in ,electricity1 ,i think it may not be improper to endeavour to proceed a little farther with it1 and consider its ,power as it stands in ,nature4 ,for1 since the ,antients have ever supposed some uniform compulsive ,power1 which they called the ,anima ,mundi1 and which by these electrical ,experiments seems to be ,fire1 ,i will endeavour to shew1 that1 in the ,dispersion of it in common ,nature1 you may observe that some ,plants abound with it1 from the great ,vigour they discover1 compar'd with others in their own ,tribe4 ,some are so1 as being of a more verdant ,nature than others are4 ,now1 from this ,consideration1 ,i will venture to give a ,reason for that which has hitherto puzzled every body that has thought about it1 which is1 ,why the ,sensitive ,plant shrinks2 and1 from a turgid and vivid ,appearance1 it immediately becomes languid1 and hangs its ,leaves1 on the ,touch of any other ,body or ,thing4 ,now1 from this my ,conjecture on ,electricity1 if you will suppose with me1 that as all ,things1 which stand in the common ,nature of this lower ,world1 have this ,fire equally dispersed1 and have more or less of it only as they are in this or that ,place1 where more or less of it is offer'd to be received by them1 or as they are in their own ,natures more capable of receiving more of it than others are1 7as ,i think has been shewn by the electrical ,experiments before-mention'd7 and then likewise suppose the ,nature of the ,sensitive ,plant is to have more of this ,fire in it than there is in any other ,plant or ,thing1 and it must1 by the ,nature of it1 when any of them touches it1 impart a great deal of its ,fire into that ,thing by which it is touched2 because that had less of it than was in the ,sensitive ,plant4 ,therefore1 till the ,sensitive ,plant has had ,time to recover its ,vigour1 by receiving from the ,air more of this ,fire1 its ,leaves and ,branches hang in a languid ,state1 from the great ,loss of its ,spirit and ,fire4 ,to illustrate this1 if you set any small ,tree in a ,pot upon a ,cake of ,resin1 and then electrify the ,tree1 even tho' it were a ,willow1 it would grow extremely turgid1 so as to erect its ,leaves to the great ,wonder of the ,beholder2 and the ,moment you touch even but one of its ,leaves1 the whole ,tree becomes as languid as the ,sensitive ,plant would be1 if touched by any ,body or ,thing4--,this ,i think seems to me to give as great a ,proof of the ,truth of my ,conjecture as the ,nature of the ,thing can admit of1 respecting the ,sensitive ,plant4 ,as ,i am upon the ,subject of ,vegetation1 it may not be improper to offer somewhat concerning the ,direction of the ,farina fecundans1 which is found in ,plants and ,flowers1 to the ,matrix of that1 or of a neighbouring ,plant or ,flower4 ,now1 if there was not some very attracting ,influence to guide it1 it would but seldom happen1 ,i think1 that they could come together by ,chance4--,if therefore you suppose1 that both the ,matrix and the ,farina abound with more of this ,fire than is in any other ,part of the ,plant1 or ,flower1 this great ,wonder is at an ,end3 ,for1 by the natural ,attraction there might be in each1 from the ,fire supposed to be in them1 they would fly together1 and be closely connected1 as they are constantly found to be in their proper ,season4 ,i have mention'd1 that the ,farina of one ,plant may impregnate the ,matrix of another as well as its own2 because ,i have observed formerly1 at ,mr4 ,fairchild's1 a ,gardener at ,hoxton1 a ,mule-,flower1 begotten betwixt a ,pink and a ,sweet-,william4 ,having consider'd how this electrical ,power may be supposed to affect ,vegetation in its common ,growth1 ,i shall reflect a little further concerning it1 as it may affect animal ,life4 ,we may observe universally1 that ,youth abounds with infinitely more ,spirits than ,age doth1 as well in the ,human ,species as in the ,brute ,creation2 as it is clearly seen in ,children1 compar'd to ,adults2 as also in ,lambs1 in ,colts1 in ,kittens1 and almost all other ,young1 they being much more vigorous than their ,dams are generally seen to be4 ,now what ,reflection ,i would make on this1 is1 ,that if ,life in them1 and in all ,nature1 be owing to the same ,fire as causes ,electricity1 then1 from thence may proceed the ,danger of lodging old ,people with young ,children2 who1 by long ,experience1 have been found to draw from young ,children their natural ,strength2 the old ,people having in them a less ,proportion of this ,fire than young ones seem to have4 ,being about to shew the ,evil as well as the ,good arising from this supposed ,fire1 ,i will1 in the next place1 endeavour to demonstrate1 the ,cause of ,blasts in ,mankind2 and also to give some ,reason for the ,blights on ,trees1 which ,i think may be occasioned by this ,fire before spoken of4 ,having given some ,account of the ,fire which was seen in the high ,wind1 to corroborate that ,truth1 ,i think it proper to inform you1 that ,i have been told1 by very good ,authority1 that1 in tempestuous ,weather at ,sea1 great ,flakes of ,fire are frequently seen passing not only in the ,air1 but on the ,water also3 ,and having myself seen the ,sea-,water1 in the ,night-time1 appear to have a great ,quantity of ,fire issuing out of it1 when the ,surface thereof was disturbed by the ,feathering of ,oars1 or by the ,vessel or ,boat passing swiftly through it1 ,i asked a ,sailor1 ,at what ,time that ,appearance happened most frequently8 ,he told me1 ,it most generally happen'd after tempestuous ,weather2 or1 as his ,term was1 dirty ,weather at ,sea4 ,i think this will sufficiently shew the ,existence of this ,fire in the ,air2 and1 if any ,regard be had to what ,i think its ,power and ,use is in the ,world1 that it will intrude itself and force its ,way into any ,thing where less of it is1 and so join itself to it by being in a greater ,quantity2 as has been shewn by many electrical ,experiments4 ,you may suppose a ,person sitting1 as it is too frequently found they are1 near a ,door1 or in a ,window1 when they are in a warm ,temperature1 and in ,perspiration2 if you believe that there can be any ,probability in the ,conjecture ,i have offer'd to your ,consideration1 is it not natural for any of this ,fire1 which passes as frequently through the ,air in the ,daytime 7though unobserved7 as when it is seen in the ,night2 ,i say1 ,why is it not natural for it to force its ,entrance into any ,person or ,thing8 especially as it comes then with the ,assistance of the ,stream of ,air the ,person sits in1 and with which it is driven4 ,in order to make this ,mischief the more to be regarded1 ,i will endeavour to shew the natural ,state of the ,air itself4 ,many ,writers about it chuse to divide it into two ,sorts2 the first is the pure ther1 which is supposed to be moving above our ,atmosphere2 the second is the common ,air1 which is supposed to be within our ,atmosphere4 ,i confess1 the ,feats attributed to the mighty ,weight of our ,atmosphere1 in causing ,siphons and ,pumps1 c4 to operate1 ,i never could understand2 but if ,i were to account for their ,operations1 as well as that of a ,barometer1 by the ,elasticity of the ,air1 ,i think ,i could more easily and more naturally shew it4 ,notwithstanding what has been advanced concerning the ther1 which is believed to inhabit above our ,atmosphere1 ,i chuse rather to suppose1 that the ,air is an ,element as well as ,fire1 and that the ,difference in it is only betwixt heavy and foul ,air1 and clean and light ,air4 ,that which comes on the highest ,mountains is clean1 and free from our ,fogs and ,putrefactions1 and1 consequently1 more elastic4 ,as a ,proof of this1 ,i would recommend the following ,experiment3 ,fill a ,bladder with this clean ,air2 then press it with a ,weight just sufficient to make it give way2 and you will find1 that1 by reason of its ,elasticity1 it will yield much further1 than if it were fill'd with the other ,air1 which is impregnated with foggy and aqueous ,particles4 ,now if1 as in a ,barometer1 the ,quicksilver is suspended by the ,air on the ,top of the ,tube1 which was extracted or emerged out of the ,quicksilver1 by the ,weight of the said ,quicksilver1 and as that ,air in the ,barometer cannot but have a ,communication with the ambient ,air1 the ,air within the ,barometer must thence be affected1 by its becoming less elastic also4 ,but this is not so much to my present ,purpose1 as to consider the ,air loaded not only with ,vapours1 but with poisonous ,effluvia from the ,steams of various ,minerals1 as well as with the ,salts of dead ,insects and ,animals1 which1 in the ,season of ,autumn1 may probably occasion so many ,agues1 and putrid ,fevers1 as are met with4 ,now1 if you further consider the ,air as loaded with any or all of these ,vapours and ,effluvia1 and demanding ,entrance with the ,authority of ,fire1 its ,companion1 is it any ,wonder1 that the ,rheumatism1 and many other bad ,effects1 which frequently happen1 in unguarded ,seasons1 to ,mankind1 may be owing to the ,cause here treated of8 ,i remember that a ,person1 riding in an open ,chaise1 in an ,easterly ,wind1 receiv'd a ,stroke upon one of his ,scapula's1 with as great ,pain1 and with the same kind of ,sensation1 as if he had been stuck with a ,dagger4 ,upon which he instantly said to his ,friend in the ,chaise1 ,he expected a violent ,rheumatism from it4 ,which accordingly happen'd2 for he was not able to quit his ,bed for ,three ,weeks after4--,i think this cannot be better accounted for1 than to suppose it proceeded from a pointed ,body of this kind of ,fire1 and the ,effluvia which accompanied it4 ,if you will be pleased to reflect on the ,air in this last described ,state1 you need not expect1 ,i think1 to have much said concerning the ,blights on ,trees4 ,it is true1 somewhat may be consider'd with regard to the ,insects frequently found on the blighted ,leaves3 ,but whether1 when by the ,blight the ,leaves have been curl'd up1 the ,insects come there as to a proper ,nidus1 or whether they are brought in this ,fire1 which seems plainly to have burn'd the ,leaves1 ,i will not undertake to account for4 ,i am1 c4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,appendix4 ,the kind ,reception this small ,treatise has met with from the ,public occasions the ,printing this ,second ,edition of it4 ,it is1 ,i confess1 some ,satisfaction to me1 that my publishing it is not without ,part of the ,effect ,i hoped for2 having been told by many1 who have read it1 that it gave them very new and satisfactory ,ideas4 ,as to those who have read it1 and say nothing of it1 either from their ,want of ,apprehension1 or their ,fear of being obliged to alter their ,sentiments concerning it1 or from a worse ,cause than either1 ,i absolutely have no ,concern about them4 ,there are those1 ,i confess1 who merit with me the highest ,esteem1 who1 having read it1 object to some ,things1 as fearing ,i have not conceiv'd them rightly2 but this they have done with the ,temper of ,gentlemen4 ,these ,i think deserve to be set right2 which ,i will therefore attempt to do in the following ,manner3 ,the ,first ,objection they make is1 ,that ,i have called ,silk1 ,wax1 c4 which do not ordinarily convey the electrical ,power to other ,bodies1 non-electricable1 or non-electrical2 when other ,writers have long since agreed to call them ,electrics per se4 ,the ,second ,objection is1 ,that what ,i have advanced1 to prove that the ,power of ,electricity proceeds not from the ,apparatus1 but from the ,air1 seems to be overthrown2 because1 since ,i wrote my ,book1 there has been a new ,experiment made1 by placing the whole ,apparatus on ,wax1 and also the ,persons concerned in the ,experiment1 and by that means the ,power is intercepted4 ,the ,third ,objection is1 ,that so large a ,quantity of ,iron1 as ,i have supposed to be electrify'd1 will not give greater ,force1 when touch'd by a ,person unelectrify'd1 than a smaller one will4 ,in ,answer to the ,first ,objection2 ,i cannot think1 that the ,term ,electric per se is suited to any ,material whatever2 unless some ,one was found out which would attract to it1 of its own accord1 any other ,material2 as we find a ,loadstone will do1 when placed near any thing in its ,reach3 but1 if you lay even ,amber unrubb'd in ,contact with ,straws1 or any other ,things1 they will not be attracted to it4 ,so that ,friction1 it is plain1 collects this ,power to the ,amber4 ,the ,term ,electric per se seems to me to be used by these ,gentlemen for the same ,purposes as the old ,term of ,occult ,quality was4 ,as the ,word ,electricity arises from ,amber1 ,i need not instance in any other ,material2 nor need ,i give again my ,reasons1 why certain ,things are non-electricable4 ,but1 for clearing ,one ,point1 in which ,i am not rightly apprehended2 ,i have said1 ,that if ,fire be the ,cause of ,life and ,increase in any thing which stands in a ,state of ,nature1 then1 whatever ceases to be in a ,state of ,life or ,increase1 must have its ,fire withdrawn1 and it becomes a ,caput ,mortuum4--,i have been told1 ,this is not true2 for a dead ,animal will be electrify'd4 ,this ,i complain of1 as not having been understood concerning it4 ,this ,animal1 though kill'd1 had once its animal ,increase from ,fire4 ,boards1 when dry1 have ,fire in them2 because the ,fire1 which invigorated the ,tree they were saw'd out of1 must naturally remain in them4 ,the like may be said of a dead ,animal2 but ,wax1 ,pitch1 ,resin1 and the ,tribe of ,non-electricables1 never had their ,existence from ,nature only2 and therefore they are quite of a different ,tribe4 ,for what ,i say is1 ,that whatever had once ,fire in it is capable of being electrify'd4 ,those called ,electrics per se1 having no ,fire in them1 when1 by ,friction1 ,fire is collected on their ,surfaces1 it is either driven from thence into the ,air1 or into some ,electricable1 and so it joins with that ,fire which naturally belongs to it4 ,sealing-wax is compounded of ,non-electricables1 and1 if you rub it1 will attract ,things to it as ,amber will3 ,and ,i believe all other ,things1 which will not imbibe the ,fire into them1 when by ,friction it is collected on their ,surfaces1 will dispose of it thence to their next ,neighbour4 ,resin and ,pitch1 from their ,tenacity1 may difficultly be made to do it1 and1 yet have the ,nature in them ,i am supposing them to have4 ,there may be such artful ,tricks play'd with this ,power1 as1 to an undiscerning ,eye1 may make it seem to be changed2 for ,instance1 ,if you wet a silk ,cord 7,water being electricable7 it passes on the ,water through the ,cord1 by the ,cord's only retaining the ,water4 ,some ,dye1 with which ,silk is dyed1 if it be of a vegetable ,nature1 will convey this ,power through the ,silk1 by the ,contiguity of the ,dye-,stuff3 ,so that you see there may be no ,end of ,experiments4 ,i think it is a great ,pity that the ,word ,electricity should ever have been given to so wonderful ,phnomenon1 which might properly be consider'd as the ,first ,principle in ,nature4 ,perhaps the ,word ,vivacity might not have been an improper one2 but it is now too late to think of changing a ,name it has so long obtain'd4 ,as ,i am going to answer the ,second ,objection1 ,i own ,i have not employ'd myself in making ,experiments in ,electricity1 chusing rather1 if ,i could1 to account for those which have been found out by others1 than to spend much ,time in making them myself3 ,though ,i pay great ,respect to those1 who1 for ,improvement of ,knowlege1 have been employ'd in them4 ,as to those who get ,money by shewing these ,experiments1 ,i do not pay so high a ,regard to their ,performances2 because all1 who shew any ,arts to new ,customers1 for ,profit1 are bound to try all ,means to gain ,applause4 ,i would endeavour to ascertain the ,laws or ,principle by which they are perform'd2 which when done1 a ,thousand ,tricks like ,legerdemain may be performed by it1 by him whose ,time is little worth4 ,in the ,second ,objection it is said1 ,i am mistaken1 when ,i advance1 that the ,apparatus is not the ,cause of ,electricity1 but that it is produced by the ,air4 ,to shew this1 ,i am told1 ,that if a ,person is placed1 and also the ,apparatus1 on ,wax or ,resin 7which are non-electricable71 no ,fire or ,force is produced from them3 ,but if the ,person employ'd in doing it touches the ,wainscot or the ,floor with a ,walking-,stick1 or the like1 the ,electricity flows as freely as if he stood on the ,floor4 ,from whence some ,conjecture this ,power comes from the ,earth only2 than which ,i think nothing can be more absurd3 ,for1 if you fetch it out of the ,wainscot1 or the ,boards of the ,floor1 it must first be in them1 and the ,air could only be the ,carrier of it to them4 ,so that here the main ,things1 which ,i at first only conjectur'd1 ,i think are fully proved2 which are1 ,that ,electricity was not generated by the ,apparatus1 but only collected by it out of the ,air4 ,as to the ,third ,objection to a larger ,quantity of electrify'd ,iron not giving greater ,force than a smaller1 it should be observ'd1 that in this ,essay ,i have only conjectured what most probably is true3 ,and as ,i profess not to have been engaged in making electrical ,experiments1 ,i must rely on those only who have made them3 ,but1 surely1 if there may be too much ,iron employ'd to be so affected1 as ,i have imagined1 there may also be too little2 and therefore ,time may yet shew1 that such a ,quantity of this ,power may be so collected as to kill a ,man2 since but ,yesterday ,i was informed1 that a ,person1 who lives in the ,strand1 is now recovering from a ,palsy1 in which he lost his ,speech1 and other ,intellects2 which ,mischief he received from this ,force of ,electricity4 ,i hope what ,i have written on this ,subject will not call on me1 from the thinking ,part of ,mankind1 any undue ,reflection3 ,i have nevertheless met with such an unmannerly ,abuse from a ,country ,show-man1 who published some ,experiments1 and owns he added the ,preface to it1 in order to write what ,i am sure no ,gentleman would have written--,if this ,person be poor1 and did it for ,gain1 ,i heartily pity him4 ,he owns he was much affrighted1 when he heard of my publishing this ,piece1 because of the hard ,fate1 he says1 of his ,booksellers2 but1 before he had read ,two ,pages1 he likewise owns he recovered his ,spirits1 when he found ,i pretended to think for myself1 and did not let ,sir ,isaac ,newton think for me1 after he had been so long dead4 ,i am well satisfy'd1 had that ,great ,man been living1 and had seen these electrical ,experiments1 he would not have bow'd low to this great ,philosopher1 for thus supporting his ,character4 ,his doing this would be as ridiculous as to see a ,pygmy attempt to carry a ,giant4 ,i believe there are more ,answers to ,books written to pay a ,landlady1 or an ,alehouse-,score1 than from any other ,cause2 especially1 if they think they answer one whose ,character will call it into the ,world4--,i know nothing of my ,adversary's ,finances2 but how rich soever he may have made himself by his ,show1 he seems to have the ,blessing of never being liable to the ,headach from his ,thinking too intensely4 ,,finis4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's note3 ,width of em-dashes has been regularised4 ,page #h1 #8unphilophical' changed to #8unphilosophical1' 8how unphilosophical and unmeaning0 ,page #af1 #8mortuum' changed to #8,mortuum1' 8as a ,caput ,mortuum4 ,of0 ,page #bg1 #8convergeing' changed to #8converging1' 8prove this converging ,fire0 ,page #ca1 #8wil' changed to #8will1' 8so it will be0 ,page #ef1 #8whetever' changed to #8whatever1' 8then1 whatever ceases to0 ,page #eg1 second #8to' struck1 8ceases to be in0