,transcriber's notes3    ,the text of   
this e-book has been preserved in its   
original form1  including inconsistent  
archaic spelling and capitalisation1 and
 use  of italics4    ,the cover image of
 the book was created by the transcriber
 and is  placed in the public domain4   
,a      ,,treatise      ,,on            
,,electricity3      ,,wherein      ,its 
various phnomena are accounted for1 and 
the    cause of the attraction and      
gravitation of solids1    assigned4     
,,to ,,which ,,is ,,added1      ,a short
 account1 how the electrical effluvia   
act    upon the animal frame1 and in    
what disorders    the same may probably 
be applied with success1    and in what 
not4      ,by ,,francis ,,penrose       
,surgeon at ,bicester4      ,they who   
are universally allowed the very        
greatest1 and    wisest of men1 have    
been1 and still are1 intent upon    the 
making of observations1 and experiments3
 and surely    that must be in order to 
some further end4 ,these would    be    

vain1 and wholely useless1 were not some
 reflections    made1 some conclusions  
drawn1 some theory or hypothesis        
raised from them4      ,woodward's state
 of physick and of diseases1 p4 #ee4    
,,oxford1      ,printed at the ,,theatre
 for ,,sackville ,,parker1 ,bookseller  
at ,oxford1 and ,w4 ,,owen1 at ,homer's 
,head1 ,temple-,bar1    ,london4 ,,md   
,,cc ,,lii4            ,,on             
,,electricity4      ,the many surprising
 effects of electricity1 and the great  
cures  performed by it1 one would       
imagine1 should awaken the attention of 
all  philosophers and physicians2 but as
 these cures have been effected by      
random experiments1 every body has      
admired1 but no body seems to have      
considered how1 or by what means1 they  
were performed4 ,whence                 
,notwithstanding all these surprising   
phnomena1 from which many  have         
entertained hopes of a great addition to
 the healing art2 yet  not one tolerable
 account has been given1 how1 or from   

what cause1  these phnomena proceeded2  
except what has been done by ,mr4       
,freke1  surgeon to ,bartholomew        
hospital2 whose admirable piece shews   
the  great penetration of its worthy    
author1 with whom ,i shall join in      
thinking 8it may possibly be the        
beginning of much good40    ,one would  
think1 this silence1 on so interesting a
 subject1 in this  enlightened age1 can 
proceed from nothing but a prejudice in 
favour  of wrong principles of          
philosophy3 ,that this is certainly the 
taste of  the present age1 ,m4 ,freke   
seems very well convinced2 for1 at the  
end  of his pamphlet1 he takes notice of
 a show-man1 who1 8having published     
some experiments in electricity1 and    
hearing that ,mr4 ,freke's piece  was   
publishing1 own'd1 he was much          
affrightened1 because of the hard  fate1
 as he said1 of his booksellers2 but1   
before he had read two  pages1 he       
likewise owned he had recovered his     
spirits1 when he found  ,mr4 ,freke     

pretended to think for himself1 and did 
not let ,sr4 ,isaac  ,newton think for  
him40    ,now1 if all persons would take
 the same freedom of thinking for       
themselves1 as ,mr4 ,freke has done1 ,i 
doubt not but we should soon  be as much
 ashamed of mentioning the attraction of
 gravitation1  and the attraction of    
cohesion c4 as we now are of the occult 
qualities of the ancient philosophers2  
and should perhaps1 then  agree with    
him1 when1 speaking of electricity1 he  
says1 that 8it is a  subject which can1 
with more nobleness and dignity1 employ 
the mind of  man1 than any he can think 
of1 relating to the sublunary part of   
the  world4 ,for by it you may be       
acquainted with the immediate officer of
  ,god ,almighty1 which he seems to send
 to all things living3 ,nay1 this       
power1 7according to his conception17   
seems to be the cause1 under  ,,him1    
both of life and death4 ,and when it may
 be more fully understood1  it may      
afford us means1 whereby we may be      

better enabled to reason  more          
intelligibly1 than now we can1          
concerning various operations in        
nature40 ,therefore1    ,in the         
following essay1 ,i shall endeavour to  
shew1    ,i4 ,how1 and from whence1 this
 electrical fire and force are produced2
  in doing of which ,i shall make some  
observations1 in order to shew that  we 
may form a more exact idea of most of   
the great operations of that  complete  
machine1 the universe1 from electrical  
experiments1 than can  be attained by   
any other means3 ,i shall also produce  
some experiments  which demonstrate1    
that the terraqueous globe has no       
attraction2  nor a solid body1 falling  
towards the earth1 any gravitation2     
after  which1 ,i shall bring other      
experiments to prove what is the cause  
of  solidity1 and by what means bodies  
gravitate towards the earth4    ,,ii4   
,how this electrical fire and force act 
upon the animal frame1 and  in what     
disorders they are likely to be of      

benefit1 and in what not4    ,i4 ,we are
 certain1 that this electrical fire is  
produced1 either from  the glass globe1 
or the air that surrounds it4 ,as to the
 glass globe1  ,mr4 ,freke has fully    
proved it cannot proceed from that2     
8,because  nothing1 we know of1 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 glass globe1 after ever so
  many times using1 remains as fit for  
the same use1 as at first40 ,from  hence
 we assert1 that this fire must proceed 
from the surrounding air  being acted   
upon by the glass globe2 and our inquiry
 must be1 how1 and  by what means1 fire 
is produced by the glass globe being    
made to act  upon the air by which      
inquiry we shall find1 that air1 light1 
and  fire are of the same substance1 or 
essence2 only differently  modified1 and
 appointed for performing different     
actions3 that air 7by  being divided or 

broke to pieces7 produces light2 and1 if
 that action  is still encreased1 it    
produces fire4 ,now as the greatest     
friction  or attrition are necessary to 
produce fire1 so fire1 when it is once  
produced1 having received the greatest  
force1 of consequence acts  with the    
greatest force2 and light1 with a less2 
so1 wherever there is  the greatest     
quantity of these small particles of    
air1 7which we call  by the name of     
fire7 in proportion to what we call     
gross air1 there the  action must be the
 greatest2 by which means the said fire 
or light will  expand itself1 'till1 by 
mixing with what we call gross air1 it  
becomes  of an uniformity with it4 ,now 
therefore1 as experiments are the sure  
way either of proving or disproving any 
hypothesis2 so1 to illustrate  this1 ,i 
shall produce some experiments both from
 ,mr4 ,freke1 and other  authors of     
unblemished credit1 which prove that air
 is convertible  into light and fire1   
and also that light and fire are        

convertible back  again into air2 and   
likewise1 as some parts of the air are  
present in  all places and things1 that 
therefore1 whenever a violent action    
either  of solids or fluids is brought  
on1 there light1 fire1 or heat1 are     
produced4    ,to prove this1 ,mr4 ,freke
 has brought1 two very simple1 common1  
but  good experiments--,first1 if you   
slide a wax thread1 or small rope1      
through your fingers1 it will burn them2
 so likewise fire is produced1  by      
rubbing two hard bodies together1 or two
 sticks2 or1 as is very  often the case1
 a cart or coach wheel will take fire1  
for want of  grease4    ,another no     
small proof of this1 is what ,mr4 ,freke
 has mentioned1  viz4 that in the year  
#agjc1 in the night of the great        
hurricane and  high wind1 in the        
strongest part of the tempest1 great    
quantities of  fire were seen passing   
swiftly over the hills in the           
neighbourhood of  ,warham in            
,dorsetshire4 ,the cause of which fire  

seems very easily  accounted for1       
according to the above theory1 which    
might otherwise  perhaps1 elude the     
searches of our greatest philosophers3  
for in this  phnomenon it is plain1 that
 the attrition of the particles of the  
air  was so great by the motion of the  
wind1 as to produce fire or light4  ,mr4
 ,freke has some other observations1    
which much strengthen the  above theory1
 viz4 that in tempestuous weather1 at   
sea1 great flakes  of fire are          
frequently seen passing1 not only in the
 air1 but on the  water4 ,the like is   
also observed1 in the night time1 when  
the surface  of the water is disturbed  
with the feathering of oars1 or by a    
vessel  or boat passing swiftly through 
it4 ,this light or fire in storms is  no
 new observation2 for ,mr4 ,boyle says1 
it is common in storms for  the fire    
called ,helena1 ,castor1 and ,pollux1 to
 hover about the  masts of ships4 ,and1 
indeed1    ,to shew that fire or heat   
are produced in any place1 or thing1    

where  there is a sufficient motion1    
seems not to be very difficult2 for     
water  is the opposite to fire2 and yet1
 by mixing water and spirit of wine     
suddenly together1 a heat ensues2 and   
this will happen if they have  been     
separated ever so often2 but this heat  
vanishes again after they  are mixed1 or
 as soon as the motion of their parts   
ceases4 ,the like  will happen by mixing
 salt of tartar and water4 ,this        
phnomenon seems  to proceed from the    
disposition and texture of the salt2    
whose pores  are made of such a proper  
size1 that1 on receiving the water by   
the  pressure of the atmosphere into    
them1 the texture of the salt may be    
thereby broken1 and its parts put into  
motion2 which motion causes  an         
attrition of the air1 and so produces a 
sensible heat4    ,boerhaave has another
 observation1 which seems to prove to a 
demonstration1 that fire or heat is     
caused by an attrition of the  air2     
which observation ,i shall give in his  

own words4 8,a cannon ball1  shot in the
 winter time1 will fly #fjj feet in a   
minute through the cold  air1 which     
makes a greater resistance than any     
wind1 the most rapid  of which only     
moves #bb-a_/b feet2 hence it appears   
how much friction  the ball must have   
undergone in its passage1 which by the  
way did  not proceed in a right line1   
but by its whirling motion continually  
describes a cycloid with every point of 
its body4 ,when it falls1  it is found  
quite hot2 notwithstanding in its whole 
passage1 it had  continually met with   
cold air4 ,this heat could not have     
arisen from  the flaming gunpowder1     
whereby it was exploded1 since it only  
remained  in that flame1 an incredible  
small space of time1 in which it is by  
no  means credible so solid a body      
should have acquired such a heat2 which 
is much more naturally accounted for    
from the great attrition of the  ball1  
driven with such a velocity through the 
air1 and repelled by a  wind1 which is  

above #bg times swifter than the        
strongest wind hitherto  observed40     
,boerhaave's ,chym4 by ,shaw1 ,vol4 #a4 
pag4 #bdd4    ,i shall mention one more 
experiment from ,mr4 ,boyle1 which      
proves that  air is not only convertible
 into light2 but that it may afterwards 
be forced through glass1 and thereby the
 same vacuum be made that  is by an air 
pump4 8,liquid phosphorus being put into
 a vial1 when  it was disposed to shine 
in the dark1 the cavity of the vial     
above  the liquor seemed to be full of  
whitish fumes1 though at other times    
transparent4 ,the vial1 when close      
stopped1 was not luminous in the  dark1 
but the light or flame appeared as soon 
as it was exposed to the  air1 and the  
vial was unstopped2 and that the        
occasion and propagation  of this flame 
depended on the contact of the air1     
appeared1 since  agitation would not    
kindle it1 but when the bottle was      
unstopped1 the  kindled flame would     
gradually be propagated downwards2 the  

flame always  appeared most vivid the   
nearer the air1 and when it was         
extinguished1  it first disappeared in  
the bottom1 and then expired at the top4
 ,when  the ,vial was unstopped for some
 time1 when it was stopped again1 the   
air that had leisurely insinuated itself
 would cherish the flame for  an hour or
 two4 ,it was observable1 that when the 
air had been long  pent up with this    
shining liquor1 its resistance would be 
so weakened1  that when the vial was    
unstopped1 the external air would       
presently  rush in with violence1 from  
whence appears the interest of the air  
in  propagating the shining of this     
liquor4 ,the agitation before the vial  
was unstopped would not kindle the      
light2 yet when it was opened1 it  would
 be increased by it1 and even when it   
was in its dull state1 if  ,i poured a  
little of it upon my hand1 and rubbed it
 with my finger1  it would presently    
become vivid1 and emit store of luminous
 rays1 as  well as fumes very offensive 

to the nostrils2 and when ,i ceased to  
rub1 and the luminous quality was lost1 
it would be renewed again by  a repeated
 attrition2 but in a little time its    
lucid virtue would  decay10 ,boulton's  
,epitome of ,boyle's works1 vol4 #b4    
pag4 #bdf4 ,from  these experiments it  
may be observed1 that this liquid       
phosphorus could  not be made to emit   
light1 without a communication with the 
air1 not  even by the utmost agitation2 
though when it had a free communication 
with the air1 a small agitation greatly 
increased the quantity and  strength of 
the light2 that1 whenever the air was   
admitted to join it1  a violent         
intestine motion came on1 by which      
motion or attrition1 light  was not only
 produced1 but also a great deal of the 
liquid was carried  off by it2 which    
might be perceived either by the sight1 
or smell4  ,and when the vial had been  
long without a cork1 by which means it  
was  filled to the utmost with air1 the 
light would continue a considerable     

time after the vial was stopped4 ,we    
likewise find1 that1 after the vial  has
 been stopped some time1 and the liquor 
has acted upon the air as  much as it   
possibly can1 there is not only a less  
quantity of gross  air than there was   
when the vial was first stopped1 but    
that there is  the same vacuum as is    
made by the air pump2 for as soon as    
ever it  is unstopped1 the air presseth 
in with violence1 the fluid above the   
phosphorus 7within the vial7 being of a 
more subtle nature than the air         
without4    ,this experiment seems      
sufficiently to prove1 that air and     
light are  of the same essence or       
substance2 for we are certain that gross
 air  entered the vial1 and1 when it was
 first stopped1 the quantity of  gross  
air was of an uniformity with the air   
without the vial2 but at  its being     
opened1 we are assured1 there was a less
 quantity than when  it was first       
stopped2 for the air without presseth in
 with the same  violence it does into   

the exhausted receiver of an air-pump2  
by which  we may be assured1 that some  
parts of the air have passed the vial in
  form of light2 and1 as the pores of   
the glass are not big enough to  admit  
gross air to return1 the consequence    
must be1 that there is a  less quantity 
of gross air in the vial at the opening1
 than there was1  when it was first     
stopped4    ,fire and light are easily  
proved to be dispersed through the whole
 air1  from the immediate action of     
speculums2 and that air itself is of the
  same substance with fire seems very   
plain2 for as fire cannot subsist       
without air1 7and in proportion to the  
quantity of air forced into the  fire1  
in such proportion will be the force of 
the fire27 so1 neither  can fire act but
 on the outside of bodies next the air2 
for even the  most inflammable bodies   
can only catch fire on their outermost  
surface  contiguous to the air2 and fire
 in action1 if immerged in a body of    
the most inflammable matter1 so as to   

leave no lighted part above such        
surface in the air1 will be so far from 
kindling the inflammable body1  that    
itself will be extinguished4 ,thus 8if a
 flaming brimstone match  be plunged    
into the highest rectified spirit of    
wine1 the spirit of  wine will          
extinguish it as intirely1 as if dipped 
in cold water2 it  will also extinguish 
a live burning sparkling coal2 but in   
the former  experiment1 if the least bit
 of the burning match remains above the 
spirit of wine1 it will then catch fire1
 and the flame will presently  spread   
over the whole surface40 ,this is an    
experiment of the great  ,boerhaave1 in 
the first vol4 of his chymistry1 by     
,shaw1 pag4 #caf4    ,all these         
experiments1 ,i think1 prove to a       
certainty1 that air is  convertible into
 light4 ,i shall now bring one          
experiment1 from  ,boerhaave1 ,vol4 #a4 
p4 #iih4 which proves1 that fire or     
light may be  changed into air4    8,if 
a spherical glass vial be kept in a     

glass-house furnace1 till ready  to     
melt1 and then be hermetically sealed in
 that heat1 and suffered to  cool2 if   
now1 it be held inverted1 under cold    
water1 and the end of the  neck be      
carefully broken off1 the water will be 
violently forced into  it1 and fill the 
glass1 but so as to leave a bubble of   
true elastic  air at the bottom40       
,the above experiments prove1 that1     
whenever air is sufficiently divided  or
 broken to pieces1 light is produced2 so
 that the light or heat in  electricity1
 is no other than1 we find1 may be      
produced several other  ways4 ,for the  
air being violently rubbed or ground to 
pieces between  your hand and the glass 
globe1 whirled briskly about1 the air   
between  your hand and the globe is     
ground so small as to be in the form of 
light1 which is expanded or sent off    
from the glass globe in the same  manner
 as light from a candle1 or other       
luminous body2 which emission  is       
continually supplied by the common air  

pressing in between the rays  of light1 
emitted from the glass ball4 ,that this 
is the method1 by  which it acts1 seems 
very clear3 for you may not only hear   
the hissing  noise of the air pressing  
towards the globe1 but also plainly feel
 the  air with your hand1 near the globe
 or tube4    ,the chief reason 7and what
 has been our great misfortune7 that we 
have not been able to discover the cause
 of electricity1 seems to  be the       
leaving that philosophy1 which has been 
revealed to us1  and putting in its     
stead theories of our own invention4    
,for1 if  we had considered 7from the   
revealed account that is given us of    
the formation of light7 the method of   
its first production1 we  should not be 
at such a loss to account for that light
 in electricity1  as we hitherto seem to
 have been2 for we are there told1 that 
the heavens1 or airs1 were created in a 
state of darkness1 or  inactivity2 and  
that the first thing ,god did1 was to   
cause a motion1  or wind amongst the    

airs2 which motion was to continue1 and 
encrease1 till it produced light2 and1  
after this light was  produced1 ,god    
called it ,day1 or as it is expressed in
 the original1  tumultuousness2 it being
 produced from the impetuous or violent 
motion of the airs3 and the darkness he 
called night1 or1 as it  is likewise    
expressed1 the time when this languishes
 or decays2  for the congealing or      
thickning of the air1 by which darkness 
is  produced1 is in proportion as the   
force of the light abates4    ,by all   
which1 ,i think1 we may be assured1 that
 the light1 and all the  phnomena       
produced in electricity1 are caused by a
 violent friction  or grinding of the   
grains of air between the glass globe   
and the hand4    ,to illustrate and     
prove1 that this is the method by which 
the  electrical light is produced1 ,i   
shall bring some experiments1 from  ,mr4
 ,hauksbee1 which1 ,i imagine1 will make
 it indisputable4 ,in his  first and    
second experiments1 he shews us1 that by

 dropping mercury  on a glass in an     
exhausted receiver1 the action of the   
mercury  on that subtil fluid gives the 
mercury the appearance of fire2 but     
observes1 that in all these experiments 
on mercury1 no light is to  be obtained 
without motion1 and that the same motion
 which produced  this light in vacuo1   
did not produce it1 when given to       
mercurial  globules in open air4 ,this  
experiment shews us1 that there was a   
larger quantity of light in the         
exhausted receiver than when it was     
filled with common air2 nay farther1    
that the subtil fluid contained  in the 
exhausted receiver1 was light2 but1 for 
want of motion1 was  not perceptible by 
our senses2 but by so small a motion as 
that of  the descending mercury1 it was 
pushed forward in the same manner1 as   
light from a candle1 or other luminous  
bodies4 ,we also find1 that  the same   
experiments performed in an unexhausted 
receiver1 would not  produce the        
phnomenon of light2 which one might     

easily suppose to  be the case4 ,for in 
the exhausted receiver1 any the least   
motion1  that is sufficient to push this
 subtil fluid 7light7 from one  place to
 another must give us the perception of 
light2 but in the  unexhausted receiver 
the motion or friction must be great    
enough1  not only to push the air from  
place to place1 but also to break  it so
 small1 as to be in form of light3 which
 he shews us by his  third1 fourth1 and 
fifth experiments to be the case2 for by
 these  experiments he produced light in
 an unexhausted receiver2 but then  the 
motion or agitation was required to be  
much greater than that  which produced  
light in vacuo4 ,the difference of these
 two lights  was very considerable1 and 
consisted particularly in this1 that the
  luminous particles are distinct and   
separate in the experiment  performed in
 the open air2 and united and blended   
into one  continued body of light1 in   
the other experiments in vacuo2 which   
difference proves to a demonstration1   

that the exhausted receiver was  full of
 nothing but light2 for1 on shaking the 
mercury therein1 the  whole body of the 
receiver seemed to be one continued body
 of light2  but on shaking the mercury  
with ever so great a violence in the    
common  air1 it seemed full only of     
little1 bright1 twinkling sparks2  and  
not one continued body1 as in vacuo4    
,for1 as the appearance of  light is    
produced in the common air1 by the      
friction of the mercury  against the    
glass receiver1 breaking or grinding the
 air to pieces  7which small particles  
put on the form of light7 so1 when the  
common  air presses in between these    
small particles1 the appearance must be1
  and cannot be otherwise than is shewn 
by these experiments4    ,these many and
 various experiments abundantly prove1  
that light is  produced as above        
described2 and not1 as the generality of
 people have  imagined 7from that       
mistaken notion of action being         
performed by  solids and not by fluids7 

that this electrical light proceeded    
from the glass globe1 emitting1 what    
they call1 electrical effluvia1  which  
has been shewn before to be impossible2 
because if any quantity  of matter sends
 off part of its own body1 there must be
 less of that  body remaining1 than     
before the above matter was sent off1   
which we  find is not the case of the   
glass globe2 and to prove that it does  
not1  ,i shall bring one experiment more
 from ,mr4 ,hauksbee which will put it  
beyond doubt4    ,pag4 #bg4 he shews us1
 that by a violent attrition of woollen 
against woollen in vacuo1 he produced   
light1 as well as from  any hard or     
electrical body2 but not so vivid1 nor  
in so large a  quantity4 ,now1 as       
woollen is reckoned by all to be a      
non-electrical  body1 it shews us that  
the light must proceed from the         
attrition  of the air1 and not from the 
electrical body1 as has been falsely    
imagined4    ,as light may be produced  
by other methods than have been yet     

described1 as from rotten wood1 fish1   
meat c4 ,i shall endeavour  to give an  
account1 how1 and in what manner1 that  
light is produced4  ,mr4 ,boyle 7in vol4
 #b4 p4 #bcc4 of the epitome by         
,boulton7 tells us1  that by putting    
rotten wood1 fish1 flesh c4 in the      
receiver  of an air-pump1 and then      
extracting the gross air1 they all1 in a
  little time1 lost their shining or    
luminous quality2 but1 upon  a          
re-admission of air1 this luminous      
quality returned4 ,from which  we may   
learn1 that the air is essentially      
necessary to continue  this light2 and1 
of consequence1 that this light is      
produced by  the action and re-action of
 the air on the body1 which cause an    
intestine motion of its parts2 and      
thereby the emission of the said  light2
 for when any thing begins to ferment   
and putrify 7which cannot  be performed 
in any place1 but where the gross air is
 present7 the  intestine motion of its  
parts is thereby increased2 which motion

  acting upon the air pressed into it1  
the air is thereby ground very  small1  
and by the continual pressure of the    
atmosphere is sent out so  small1 as to 
be in form of light4--,in the common    
fermentation of  liquids1 when it rises 
to any height1 those particles of light 
being  stopped1 and entangled by the    
watry parts of the fermenting mass1     
thereby produce heat2 and some mixtures 
will produce light1 heat  and flame on  
fermentation2 as steel1 water1 and      
sulphur4    ,by these experiments we    
have a clear idea of the means and      
method by  which fermentation is        
performed1 which operation has been     
hitherto  unintelligible4 ,from hence we
 may likewise see the reason why1 in an 
air either too hot or too cold1         
fermentation cannot be performed2  for  
in an air too cold1 the pressure is too 
great1 and also the  grains of air too  
large to enter and divide the thing to  
be  fermented2 by which means the motion
 of its parts requisite to  fermentation

 is prevented2 but in air that is too   
hot1 there must  be just the contrary   
effect1 for there the parts of the thing
 to be  fermented are so far expanded1  
and the air so rarified1 as to  pass    
through the body with little or no      
obstruction1 and of consequence  to     
produce little or no intestine motion of
 its parts2 and that  there is in       
fermentations an intestine motion of the
 parts of a  fermenting liquid1 is      
easily discernible by the naked eye4    
,this also  gives us the reason1 why the
 glow-worm shines only in the summer    
months1 when the air is greatly         
rarified1 or divided1 and then  requires
 but a small motion to give it the form 
of light4    ,the light proceeding from 
diamonds c4 seems to be easily accounted
  for from the motion of the airs2 that 
there is a perpetual motion  of the     
airs1 may be proved by the following    
experiment4 ,in a still  place1 suppose 
a close darkened room1 illuminated only 
by one small  hole in the window        

shutter2 where1 if a person at rest     
views the  enlightened current of air   
sideways1 as it extends along the room1 
he will perceive a surprising motion of 
the dusty atoms therein1  perpetually   
rolling and tossing about with great    
rapidity4 ,this  motion must be very    
considerable1 as it is perpetual1 and   
pushed  on with the power of gravity in 
the air equal to a column of water  #cc 
feet high4 ,by this action on diamonds1 
whose pores are very  small1 and the    
bodies themselves of such a make and    
hardness1 as  that1 when the air is     
pressed on them with so great a force as
 that  of the incumbent atmosphere1 the 
air is broke exceedingly small1  and1 by
 the continuance of the pressure1 is    
sent off from the body  in form of      
light4 ,we likewise find from           
experiments1 that where  diamonds1 or   
other bodies of that kind1 have not     
their outward parts  of a proper make1  
or their substance of a sufficient      
hardness or  closeness of parts1 to emit

 light with no greater force1 than the  
pressure of the atmosphere only1 then   
this deficiency may be supplied  by     
rubbing2 by which means the air is      
ground to pieces1 and emitted  in form  
of light1 as is shewn in all electrical 
experiments4    ,one great property of  
light1 or1 as it is commonly called the 
electrical effluvia1 is 7as ,mr4        
,hauksbee has proved from many          
experiments17 that it passes through    
glass1 as water does through a  sieve1  
or as if no body of matter interposed4  
,this light of itself1  when pure1 or   
simple1 hurts or destroys no material   
bodies2  but when pushed on by the      
following air with great violence1  and 
meeting with a great resistance from an 
impeding body1 the  conflict is so      
great1 that if the following air presses
 on with  sufficient violence1 it       
dissolves or destroys the solidity  of  
any material body4 ,as all bodies become
 solid according to the  temperature of 
the surrounding air2 some retaining     

their solidity  in such a degree of     
heat1 as metals of most kinds2 whilst   
others  require a particular degree of  
cold before they become solid1  as water
 c4 which when froze is as much a solid 
as any thing  else--this proves that the
 solidity of bodies depends on the      
temperature of the air1 as will be more 
fully proved hereafter4    ,the glass   
globe1 with the electrical experiments1 
seems to give  a very clear idea in what
 manner the sun is supported1 how  this 
terraqueous globe and the rest of the   
planets are made to  move1 and continued
 in motion2 and also1 what is the cause 
of  the attraction of the sun1 earth1   
moon and the rest of the  planets4      
,that the sun is the chief1 material1   
ruling agent1 is very clearly  revealed2
 as are some of its chiefest actions on 
the planets and the  rest of the        
universe4 ,for1 in the sun we find a    
power of melting1  dividing and 7with   
the assistance of the air7 expanding and
 sending out  the air1 first in form of 

fire1 and afterwards in that of light2  
which power seems to be so regulated1 as
 to be able to reach the  extremities of
 the universe1 where it is congealed1   
condensed1 and  returned back again to  
the sun1 to be again melted1 divided1   
and sent out as before4 ,this action    
seems to be represented by water  in a  
still1 for there the fire1 forcing its  
way through the water  contained in the 
still1 carries off some of the watry    
particles with  it2 and when it has     
reached the head of the still1 if it has
 no  passage into the outward air1 and  
the action of the fire is not great     
enough to break the still1 it is by the 
coldness of the surrounding  air 7or as 
is commonly the case by the coldness of 
water placed thereon  for that purpose7 
condensed and returned into the water   
contained  in the body of the still1    
there to be rarified1 expanded1 and     
sent off in steam1 as before4    ,we    
must suppose the streams of light to be 
always acting on one  side of this      

terraqueous globe1 and there dividing1  
expanding  and rarifying the air2 the   
consequence of which must be a kind of  
vacuum1 which is immediately filled by  
the pressing in of the  congealed air   
from the extremities2 and as the earth  
is placed in  this fluid of airs1 we may
 as easily conceive that the air        
pressing  in as above1 must1 with it1   
turn round the earth1 in the same       
manner1  and with as much ease1 as water
 does a common mill-wheel1 or the air a 
wind-mill4 ,by these powers also the    
terraqueous globe is kept solid  and    
entire2 for1 was this force once taken  
off1 it would soon drop  to atoms1      
notwithstanding the pretended attracting
 power of its  materials4    ,to confirm
 what is here advanced1 ,i shall bring  
an experiment 7which  ,mr4 ,boyle has   
laid down as a paradox7 which proves    
that this  terraqueous globe has no     
attraction1 nor any solid1 falling      
towards  it1 any gravitation2 but that  
all bodies are forced to it by the      

incumbent atmosphere1 as much as water  
is forced up a pump by it  7the         
atmosphere7 which1 till the time of the 
great ,mr4 ,boyle1 was  imagined to be  
performed by1 what they called1 the     
suction of the  pump4 ,but this is no   
more than has often happened in         
philosophy1 where  when we cannot well  
account for any thing1 we put the effect
 for the  cause4    ,mr4 ,boyle found   
that a solid body1 as ponderous as any  
yet known1  though near the top of the  
water it would sink by its own weight1  
yet if it be placed at a greater depth  
than twenty times its own  thickness1 it
 will not sink1 if its descent be not   
assisted by the  weight of the incumbent
 water4 ,to prove this1 he gives us a   
curious  experiment1 viz4 by keeping off
 the pressure of the water1 from  the   
top of the sinking body1 and sinking it 
to a proper depth1  he found1 that the  
most ponderous body would be buoyed up1 
and  supported by the water only4 ,see  
the #b;d vol4 of ,boulton's epitome1    

pag4 #cje4 ,this experiment shews us    
beyond all contradiction1 that the      
earth has no power of attraction1 nor a 
descending body any power  of           
gravitation2 for if it had1 the farther 
it was sunk in the water1  the nearer it
 must be to the centre of the earth1 and
 of consequence  the attraction must be 
the greater2 but this1 we find1 is      
contrary  to experience2 so that the    
whole power of descending is impressed  
upon  it by the air1 or by other bodies 
forced upon it by the incumbent  air4   
,this experiment alone is more than     
sufficient to destroy the fine  theories
 of attraction and gravitation2 it also 
shews us how1 and  by what means1 two   
marble slabs1 finely polished1 are what 
they call  attracted to each other1 and 
require a great force to separate them2 
a force in proportion to the breadth of 
the slabs2 but this has been  shewn by  
other experiments to be nothing but the 
pressure of the  air1 or atmosphere2 for
 put them into an air pump1 and extract 

the  gross air1 and they will           
immediately separate from each other4   
,one reason1 which seems to have led us 
into the mistake that the  solidity1 or 
firmness of bodies is not caused by the 
air1 has  been1 that1 for the           
generality1 we consider the air1 or     
atmosphere  as pressing only downwards2 
for if we had considered that it        
presseth equally every way1 as well as  
downwards1 7as ,boerhaave  in his chym4 
by ,shaw1 vol4 #a4 p4 #chi4 has shew by 
the following  experiment7 ,i believe we
 should not have overlooked that force1 
or have  thought it insufficient for    
this operation4 8,fill three glass      
vessels1  the one of a cylindrical      
figure1 the other conical1 the third    
bellied  with a cylindrical neck2 let   
these be filled to the brim with fair   
water1 and covered with a single piece  
of paper1 so as to touch the  surface of
 the water1 and by pressing it down with
 the hand1 prevent  the external air    
insinuating between the paper and the   

water2 if the  glasses be now inverted1 
whilst the paper remains close with the 
palm  of the hand1 and the hand be      
afterwards gently withdrawn1 the water  
will still remain in the glasses4 ,the  
same holds true1 though the  glasses be 
held horizontal1 or in any other        
position40 ,as the cause of  the        
solidity or firmness of bodies is the   
pressure of the air  or atmosphere1 so  
likewise it must depend on the make and 
size of  the pores of such bodies2 for  
bodies whose pores are smallest1  must  
be acted upon with a greater power than 
those whose pores  are largest1 or whose
 pores are so large as not only to admit
  light1 but also common air into them4 
,this ,mr4 ,hauksbee proves by  a       
curious experiment1 for having placed   
two brass hemispheres1 of #c-a_/b       
inches diameter1 upon each other1 and   
then extracting the gross air out  of   
them by the air pump1 and by these means
 taking off the resistance  of the      
common air that was within the two brass

 hemispheres1 he  says1 it required #adj
 pound weight to separate them2 this    
experiment  with that of the two marble 
slabs before mentioned1 is a            
demonstration  of the power that keeps  
solid bodies from falling to pieces4    
,and even1 if these slabs are not so    
perfectly smooth1 yet the weting  them  
with water1 which prevents the gross air
 from entering1 will  produce the like  
effect4 ,that solids expand themselves  
by heat or  fire1 is proved by heating  
an iron rod in the fire3 in which case1 
it is always found to be bigger and     
longer when hot than cold2  and it was  
the opinion of ,boerhaave1 that cold    
consolidates all  those that are called 
firm bodies2 that is1 brings that part1 
which  we call body in them1 into a less
 compass than before1 and thus  unites  
the matter thereof more closely         
together3 by which means the  cohesion  
of the whole mass is usually increased2 
which makes what we  call1 strength and 
firmness in bodies4    ,having shewn    

that solid bodies have no power either  
of attraction  or gravitation1 and that 
their firmness or solidity depends on   
the pressure of the atmosphere2 ,i shall
 now endeavour to shew1 from  electrical
 experiments1 how1 and by what means    
they descend towards  the earth4        
,what is called the attraction of the   
earth seems to be performed  in the same
 manner as that of the glass globe in   
electricity2 the  explaining of which   
will give us a clear idea1 by what means
 heavy  bodies are forced towards the   
terraqueous globe4 ,in accounting for   
this electrical attraction1 ,mr4        
,hauksbee seems to be very clear2  for1 
says he1 8if by the heat and            
rarefaction1 consequent upon the        
attrition1 the medium contiguous to the 
glass be made specifically  lighter2    
then of course1 to keep up the ballance1
 the remoter air1  which is denser1 must
 press in towards the tube1 and so carry
 away 7in  the torrent7 the little      
bodies lying in its way1 thither also4  

,the  various irregularities in the     
excitation1 or the emission and         
discharge  of the electrical matter or  
light from the tube 7which will be      
followed  with proportional             
irregularities1 in the motion and       
tendency of the  denser air1 towards the
 glass globe1 by the hydrostatical laws7
 may  be sufficient to account for the  
various uncertain motions of the  little
 bodies carried towards the glass       
globe40 ,this account of ,mr4           
,hauksbee's being so very clear1 it is a
 little surprising that he  should allow
 the power of attraction to matter1 as  
in some places he  does2 for this is no 
more than in other words1 telling us1   
that the  air round the ball is divided 
and rubbed or ground to pieces by  the  
friction between the glass globe and    
your hand1 and thereby made  to expand  
itself2 so the air pressing in to make  
up that deficiency1  forces every thing 
towards the glass globe1 that by its    
number of  particles is not able to     

withstand the current of air1 pressing  
towards the globe4 ,so in like manner   
near the surface of the earth1 the      
sun-beams being reflected by the        
terraqueous globe1 must by these  means 
be in a greater quantity near the       
surface of the earth1 than at a         
distance from it2 and so divide1 expand 
and rarify the air near  its surface1   
which rarified or divided air is forced 
off from the  earth on all sides1 by the
 pressing in of the air from above1     
which  must of consequence drive every  
thing before it1 towards the earth4  ,by
 which we find1 that the cause of bodies
 descending towards the  earth1 is not  
from any property either of the earth or
 of the  descending bodies2 but that    
these are forced towards that1 by the   
surrounding air1 in its said motion4    
,to prove that this is the method by    
which1 in electricity1 bodies are       
forced towards the glass globe1 ,i shall
 bring an experiment or two from  ,mr4  
,hauksbee2 and as these experiments     

prove to a certainty1 that  this is the 
manner of the attraction in electricity1
 it will give  us little room to doubt1 
but that the attraction of the earth is 
performed in the same manner4    ,mr4   
,hauksbee observed1 that the electrical 
effluvia were not only  perceiveable by 
sight2 but also1 if the hand was held   
near the tube1  seemed to make such sort
 of strokes upon the skin1 as a number  
of fine  limber hairs pushing against it
 might be supposed to do3 and in order  
to find whether the electrical          
attraction was regular and uniform1  he 
made the following curious experiment1  
shewing that all bodies1 not  too heavy1
 are forced 7or1 as is commonly         
supposed1 attracted7 to  a cylindrical  
glass1 equally all round1 if these      
bodies are1 as they  term it1 within the
 sphere of its activity4    ,this       
experiment seemed to affect ,mr4        
,hauksbee so much1 that 7speaking  of   
electricity7 he says1 8it affords us a  
sort of representation of  the great    

phnomena of the universe40 ,page #ec4   
,illustration    8,for1 says he1 having 
observed 7in electricity7 that light    
bodies1  placed near any part of the    
rubbed cylinder1 seemed to be equally   
attracted1 ,i contrived a semicircle of 
wire1 which ,i could fasten at  a       
constant distance1 making it encompass  
the upper semi-cylindrical  surface of  
the glass1 at #d or #e inches distance4 
,this wire had  several pieces of       
woollen threads fastened to it at pretty
 near equal  distances4 ,the length of  
them was such1 that being extended in a 
direction towards the center of that    
imaginary circle1 on the surface  of the
 glass1 in the plane of which the wire  
was placed2 they would  then reach      
within an inch of the circumference of  
that circle3 but  if left to their own  
liberty1 they hung in that parallel     
portion  represented1 fig4 #a4 ,the     
cylinder was placed with its axis       
parallel to  the horizon2 and in this   
posture1 it was turned swiftly round2   

and  then by the rapid motion and       
agitation of the surrounding air1 the   
threads were placed into such portions1 
as are expressed fig4 #b4 viz4  they    
were all lifted up and bent upwards from
 the axis of the cylinder4    8,all this
 while1 there was only the swift motion 
of the cylinder  round its axis1 without
 any attrition1 but now when ,i came to 
apply  my hand to the lower part of the 
glass 7so swiftly whirled about7  and   
consequently to add attrition to the    
former motion2 the threads  presently   
began to change their direction1 and all
 harmoniously pointed  to the center of 
the circle1 in whose plane the wire was 
placed1 as  in fig4 #c4 neither were    
they at all disordered or flung out of  
that  position1 by the wind occasioned  
by that violent motion 7but as if  there
 had been no such hurry of air about    
them7 they still persisted  in their    
central direction2 ,i found ,i could by 
shifting the place of  the attrition    
hither or thither1 draw the threads     

towards this or that  end of the        
cylinder2 but yet they all still went   
uniformly converging  towards some      
center in the axis of it2 so that they  
formed themselves  into a sort of       
conical surface4    8,farther1 if the   
wire with its loose threads was         
reverted1 so as to  encompass the lower 
part of the cylinder 7as before it did  
the upper  part7 yet the effect still   
answered with the same exactness4 ,for  
the  threads were all erected into so   
many strait lines1 still directing      
themselves towards a center in the axis 
of the glass4    8,hitherto the axis of 
the cylinder was placed horizontally2 in
 the next  place ,i set it in a vertical
 position1 so that it stood             
perpendicular  to the plane of the      
horizon2 in which case ,i made use of a 
wire hoop1  which was necessary to be   
placed parallel to the horizon1 that it 
might  encompass the cylinder1 in the   
same manner as the semicircular wire did
  before3 only one small part of this   

wire was left open1 to make way  for the
 touch of the hand1 which was to give   
the attrition4 ,and the  wire being thus
 placed1 it was evident that the threads
 7without some  external force to       
support them7 must all flag and hang    
perpendicularly  downwards4 ,yet1 as    
soon as the motion and attrition were   
given1 the  threads presently began to  
be extended2 and as if they were become 
stiff and hard1 formed themselves into  
an horizontal plane2 their loose  ends  
pointing to a center in the axis of the 
glass1 as before4    8,and thus 7in all 
sorts of positions whatsoever1 both of  
the wire and  of the glass too7 were the
 threads acted upon by a sort of        
centripetal  force2 to the laws of which
 they were always conformable40 ,see    
,hauksbee's experiments1 page #ec c4    
,it may be observed in this experiment1 
that the attractive power of  bodies    
does not lie in solids1 as has been     
falsly imagined1 neither  have such     
bodies any centripetal or centrifugal   

force2 but that  this power and force   
are given them from without4 ,for1 on   
placing  the wire with the threads round
 the cylinder1 they were all forced  7or
 as it is often called1 attracted7      
towards the earth2 but1 on  giving a    
violent motion to the cylinder1 they    
were drove from the  cylinder1 as if    
forced by a strong wind2 but1 by        
applying the hand to  the glass         
cylinder1 they were recalled1 and all   
pointed to a center  in the axis of the 
cylinder3 and this central direction    
might be  altered at any time1 by only  
moving the hand to different parts of   
the cylinder2 the threads always        
pointing to the place where the         
attrition was made3 by which we find1   
that the central force1 both  of the    
cylinder and the threads1 are caused by 
the attrition of the  air between your  
hand and the cylinder2 whereas1 at any  
other time1  they are quite inactive3 so
 we are assured that these central      
forces  which have been imagined to be  

within the solid1 are not there1 but  in
 the air without it4    ,on putting     
something between any of the threads and
 the cylinder2 then1  those threads     
would return to their first and natural 
position1 viz4  point towards the center
 of the earth4 ,so1 as ,mr4 ,hauksbee   
observes1  8in these small orbs of      
matter we have some little resemblances 
of the  grand phnomena of the universe40
    ,another thing observable was1 8that
 by putting these threads within a      
glass1 when they became extended1 this  
position of the threads would be        
altered at any time on the approach of  
one's hand1 finger1 or any other  body1 
to the surface of the glass40 ,this is  
sufficient proof that the  light1 or as 
it is generally called1 the electrical  
effluvia pass  through the glass1 with  
as much ease as water does through a    
sieve4    ,one thing which seemed a     
little surprising to ,mr4 ,hauksbee was1
 that  upon exhausting the gross air out
 of the tube or globe made use of  in   

electricity1 what he called the power of
 attraction1 would cease2  but upon     
suffering the air again to enter1 it    
returned as vigorous as  before4 ,this  
must be the case2 for 7as was before    
observed7 whenever  the gross air is    
extracted by an air pump1 the fluid     
remaining is  nothing but light4 ,so1   
whenever this attrition is performed on 
an  exhausted globe 7for want of the    
resistance of the gross air within1 to  
force off the particles of air ground so
 small as light1 and thereby  to make an
 expansion or rarefaction round the     
glass globe1 which  has been shewn to be
 the cause of light bodies being forced 
towards  the globe7 these particles of  
light do immediately enter the globe on 
one side1 and force out the same        
quantity on the other2 in the same      
manner as water through a sieve1 without
 ever making any expansion or           
rarefaction4    ,having thus shewn how  
and by what means the fire and light in 
electricity are produced2 our next      

inquiry must be1 why some bodies        
communicate this light to ever so great 
a distance1 and that  instantaneously2  
whilst others will not2 and also1 why   
some bodies are  electrical and others  
non-electrical4    ,electrical bodies   
are those1 whose pores are so fine1 as  
to admit  nothing through them but      
light1 or air ground to a proper        
fitness2  as metalls1 glass1 amber1 wax 
c4 ,bodies non-electrical1 are  all     
those1 which1 by the largeness of their 
pores1 admit1 not only  light but also  
gross air4    ,we see1 when the air is  
ground to pieces by an electrical       
machine1  and put into sufficient       
motion1 by the friction between the     
glass  globe and the hand1 a wire being 
hung from the iron barrel1 so as very   
near to touch the ball1 part of the     
light issuing from the ball1  as above  
described1 enters the wire1 and is by it
 communicated to  the iron barrel1 and  
from thence carried by another wire to  
any  distance1 if not interrupted by    

some non-electrical body3 to the end  of
 which1 by a third wire is hung an egg2 
as soon as the globe is put  in motion1 
and warm spirit of wine is placed so as 
to touch the egg1  the spirit of wine   
will immediately take fire from the     
contact of the  egg4    ,it has been    
already proved1 that when the globe is  
put in motion1 and  your hand is applied
 to it1 it grinds to pieces the air     
between the  globe and the hand1 and so 
rarefies and expands it1 and sends it   
off with great force1 in the same       
manner1 as light is sent from any  body 
of fire in action2 as may be seen1 if   
the electrical machine is  set at work  
in the dark2 when the emission from the 
glass globe will  appear lucid4    ,the 
wires which are hung over the glass     
globe1 by the smallness of  their pores1
 admitting nothing through them but     
light1 and light  being a body so       
subtil1 as to penetrate the pores of all
 other  bodies1 even to the very center 
of the earth2 the interstices of the    

wires are filled with it from one end to
 the other4    ,as the light is one     
continued body1 throughout the whole    
extent of  the wire1 the force it       
receives at the end next the glass      
globe1 is  immediately1 and at the same 
instant of time1 communicated to the    
other end1 let the length or extent of  
the wire be ever so great4  ,as1 for    
example1 a pipe of any length1 being    
filled with any sort  of fluid1 as      
water2 if you force in more water at one
 end1 the same  moment1 and in the same 
quantity1 it will be forced out at the  
other4    ,by these experiments in      
electricity1 we find that fire and light
  are produced as has been before       
observed1 only by breaking the air  to  
pieces1 and putting it in motion2 and   
that fire and light are  in all bodies1 
water and ice not excepted2 for1 if a   
piece of ice is  hung at the end of the 
wire1 it will set fire to spirit of     
wine1 as  well as an egg4    ,the iron  
wire by the closeness of its pores      

prevents the  surrounding air from      
entering it1 and by that means at the   
same time  forms a kind of canal for the
 light to pass through4    ,having thus 
as ,i conceive1 given a tolerable clear 
account1 and1 ,i  hope1 a true one1 how 
and by what means1 the various phnomena 
in  electricity are produced2 ,i        
suppose1 it will not be a very difficult
  task1 to form a judgment1 what        
disorders electrical operations are     
likely to be applied to1 with hopes of  
service2 as also in what others  they   
are likely to be detrimental4    ,as the
 heat and redness of the blood1 may be  
easily proved1 to  be in proportion to  
the quantity and motion of the light it 
contains2 so1 wherever the blood is     
heated to a great degree1 as in  fevers1
 ,inflammations of all kinds c4 there we
 are to expect the  worst and most      
pernicious consequences1 from the use of
 electricity4    ,but1 on the contrary1 
as the nerves have been proved to act by
 a  subtil fluid that passes through    

them1 and that they1 by the closeness   
of their pores1 will not admit a fluid  
to pass through them1 whose  particles  
are much larger than those of light2 the
 consequences we  must often expect from
 such a make1 must be obstructions2 and 
as the  light in electricity is forced  
through our bodies and nerves1 with     
great violence1 it seems very reasonable
 to think1 that where these             
obstructions are not too violent1 there 
they may be broken through and  removed 
by its power1 of which we have had many 
instances1 especially  in palsies4      
,this is also confirmed by the success  
of the present practice of  physick2    
for1 the greatest relief1 in these      
cases1 is always found to  proceed from 
volatile and penetrating medicines4     
,but1 care should  be taken1 not to     
administer electricity1 to a person of  
weak and  decayed nerves1 instead of one
 whose nerves are obstructed4           
,,finis4