and rubber, that the phenomena of the common electrical machine are to be attributed.

An attempt will now be made to explain the series of effects manifested in the charging and discharging of the Leyden jar, in conformity with the views already advanced.

When, by the motion of the cylinder on the rubber, friction and heat are induced, the magnetide of electrine, or common neutral electricity, contained in the interstices, or lying on the surfaces, is decomposed, and its constituents separated from each other; they now dispose of themselves in the following manner: The glass material, of which the cylinder is constructed, as well as the rubber, being bad conductors, the electrine collects on their surfaces, where it is retained, particularly as respects the cylinder, by the attraction of the particles of the glass, assisted by the circumstance of the surrounding air being also a bad conductor; while the magnetine, from its highly attenuated and permeable nature, readily escapes. If the prime conductor be now applied to the cylinder, the electrine collected on the surface of the latter immediately passes into it, and proportionately charges. it with electrine, so as to render it in turn capable of influencing in a similar way other conducting bodies,-as, for instance, the Leyden jar. In this way, by continuing the revolution of the cylinder, a charge or quantity of electrine becomes accumulated in the interior of the jar, where it is retained, partly by the attraction between it and the glass, and partly from the pressure of the non-conducting atmosphere preventing its escape. The interior of the jar being thus charged with electrine, or brought into a state of positive electricity, it follows, in conformity with the established laws of attraction and repulsion, that it will have the effect of repelling the particle of its own kind situate at the exterior of the jar, and at the same time of attracting to the surface of the latter the particles of negative clectricity or magnetine existing in the same exterior vicinity; thus giving rise to an analogous state of circumstances which is presumed, under the old theories, to exist with respect to the Leyden jar, and to be dependent on that essential law, "that where there is positive, there will be an equal or correspondent state of negative electricity."

It is conceived that the various phenomena of transference and induction admit of being as well solved by this hypothesis as by any previous one.

If the hypothesis were thus far admitted, it would become necessary to assume, that magnetide of electrine, like all other chemical compounds, was composed of certain and definite proportions of its constituents. What the equivalents may be, it is, however, impossible at present to determine,--any excess or detachment on either side would manifest itself respectively in the form of free magnetine or free electrine; and it is to accumulations of the former on the exterior, and of the latter in the

VOL. XXXII.

H

interior of the jar, that the respective negative and positive changes are to be attributed.

An objection may be taken to the hypothesis, on the ground that no apparent reason has been assigned why the permeable magnetine on the outside of the jar should not at once penetrate through the glass, rejoin the electrine in the interior, and combine with it to form the neutral electricity without the intervention of a circuitous conductor.

To this objection it may be replied, that although the atmosphere is pervaded generally by neutral electricity, or magnetide of electrine, it admits of its combination, or presence, only in definite proportions; and being as it were already saturated with it, any attempt to introduce more would be followed by that state of condensation or compression of the magnetide which, as in the instance of the cylinder under friction, has been seen to be incompatible with the existence of the constituents in combination. This state and circumstance probably exists with respect to the charged jar, and is sufficient to prevent the formation of magnetide of electrine within it.

The point of saturation of atmospheric air, as well as of other bodies, with magnetide of electrine, doubtless admits of variation under varied circumstances, chemical and mechanical. Thus, a change of temperature may alter it; and hence it arises, that in hot weather, the atmosphere becoming more dense and heated, a compression of the neutral electricity it contains takes place, magnetine is eliminated and electrine proportionately evolved, producing the well known series of electric phenomena attendant on summer seasons and tropical climates, and which will require a further consideration when the hypothesis is applied to the explanation of meteorologic principles.

There exists, however, a powerful affinity in magnetine and electrine to combine together, whenever the opposing state of compression, or the operation of chemical agents does not counteract it. It is not only by virtue of this affinity that the magnetine accumulates at the exterior of the jar, but it is also the cause of the discharge of the latter, when a communication is made by means of a conductor between the electrine in the interior and magnetine on the outside; for although, for reasons lately assigned, the magnetine from without cannot penetrate to the electrine within, there is nothing to prevent the reverse action taking place, when a communication is made between them, in the manner above stated; on the contrary, the electrine immediately rushes along the conductor, rejoins the magnetine, and produces the magnetide. This action constitutes the well known electric shock.

The electric shock or discharge is, however, always accompanied by a manifestation or disengagement of light and heat, and which, therefore, are entitled to be considered as additional constituents of the electric matter. Their nature and connections

with magnetine and electrine will be entered upon more fully hereafter.

In the immediately succeeding essays, it is purposed to investigate the nature of the various elementary principles, above advanced, as the constituents of (neutral) electricity,-namely, magnetine, light, heat, and electrine; and then, after recapitulating the more important points which may have been advanced, to proceed to a statement of the hypothesis it is wished to establish; and afterwards to examine how far the latter tends to explain some of the more important phenomena of nature, and especially the general principles of chemical and vital actions.

CHAPTER II.

ON MAGNETINE.

MAGNETINE, the magnetic power,-the most influential agent in nature, is at present only known by its effects. The hypothesis assumes it to be a matter, but of so attenuated, subtle, and permeable a kind, that when in a free state, no apparatus hitherto devised by art is capable of retaining it; a circumstance which renders, and probably will ever continue to render it, difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate its positive form of material existence.

The effects of magnetine, as evidenced by the magnet, in electrical experiments, and in certain chemical actions, have been already freely investigated, but the inferences deduced respecting its nature are in no ways satisfactory; hypothesis and speculation are their chief characteristics: the author, therefore, in maintaining the chemical elementary constitution of the agent, is guilty of no solecism or impropriety; and if he can shew that such a view admits of affording a probable explanation of the facts involved, it ought not to be hastily rejected, because it may be difficult, or even impossible, to subject it to demonstrative proof.

The positive existence of the magnetic principle is perhaps in no case more clearly instanced than in the phenomena displayed by the magnet; here that principle is found travelling with inconceivable rapidity through the pores of one of the most dense substances we are acquainted with, but yet not capable of permeating them with equal facility in every direction; in fact it meets with obstruction in all others but one, a circumstance which evinces its being possessed of one of the more important characters of matter, namely, impenetrability.

It is a curious fact, that no other matter than that which constitutes the magnet,-namely, ferruginous matter,—is capable of giving rise to a permanent magnetic current; and it is one, the importance of which will hereafter be shewn: all other kinds of

matter permit it to permeate them equally in every direction; and although they may, under circumstances, exhibit evidences of polarity, this polarity is only temporary, and ceases with the circumstances which have induced it.

The above may be regarded as a mechanical evidence of the material nature of magnetine; the chemical evidences are probably more numerous and not less powerful. An instance has been already advanced with respect to the actions induced in the operations of common electricity, in which the neutral fluid has been assumed to be the result of a chemical combination of magnetine with electrine.

Without attempting to illustrate further, at the present moment, the above assumed materiality of magnetine, but in expectation that, in the course of the work, abundant additional confirmations will be found, it is now purposed to advert to certain properties, which it is conceived belong to this most important agent in nature.

It is to the operation of magnetine that the grand principle which has been termed attraction is presumed to be attributable. By virtue of this principle the particles of all the ponderable bodies which exist in nature, admit of being drawn and cemented together, so as to become massified and formal; and it is also to be regarded as the cause from which all their motive phenomena proceed.

According to the above, the principle of attraction may be considered as consisting of two distinct modifications, namely, the attractive and the cohesive powers.

The first of these, the attractive power, acts at whatever distance bodies may be separated from each other, with a force calculable by mathematical rules. It is the source of the greater movements of the universe; and of those changes of situation, with respect to ponderous bodies, which take place mechanically, without being attended by alterations in their chemical constitution.

The second modification, generally termed cohesive attraction or cohesion, operates only with respect to bodies in immediate contiguity with each other, and which, in consequence, acquire weight, density, and the power of resisting, more or less, that chemical action liable to be produced when they are brought into proximity with other bodies. In itself it affords an example of an especial combination between the particles of similar matter thus cemented together and the magnetic influence, or magnetine, by which that cementation has been effected. In a similar way to that in which heat, otherwise free, becomes latent by chemical combination with the various ponderable bodies, so does the magnetine, when thus operating, lose its freedom and become latent, not only conferring determinate form on the resulting compound, but probably other important properties. These presumed effects.

will receive abundant illustrations in the subsequent portions of

the essay.

Magnetine, in its free state, evidences not the slightest tendency to ponderosity in itself, although assumed to be the cause of weight in all other bodies; it is, therefore, not probable, that it contributes, when in combination, to the positive weight of such bodies, otherwise than by its cohesive and attractive power. It may therefore be regarded as a strictly imponderable fluid.

The sources of magnetine are numerous.-It exists largely in the atmosphere in combination with electrine, as well as more or

less in a free state.

It also admits of being extensively derived from its combination with all the other elementary bodies and their compounds, in which, in a latent state, it forms a constituent, and from which it is liable to be eliminated whenever chemical action is induced with respect to them.

Another and important source is the solar orb, from whence it is perpetually emanating, and being conveyed to the terrestrial system by means of the solar ray, not singly indeed, but in conjunction with another influential imponderable matter, the principle of light, which will be more particularly noticed in the succeeding chapters.

[To be continued.]

LIST OF REGISTRATIONS EFFECTED UNDER THE ACT FOR PROTECTING NEW AND ORIGINAL DESIGNS FOR ARTICLES OF UTILITY.

1847.

Dec. 29. Henry Reshton, of Kendal, plumber, for an improved sheet or glass frame for vineries, &c.

1848.

30. J. Norrington, of Plymouth, for a stock.

30. James Mellin, of Levengrave, near Rochdale, for a counter-balance candle-holder.

31. Richard Stiven, of Arbroath, warehouseman, for an improved shuttle for power-loom weaving.

31. John Bedington, of 40, Digbeth, Birmingham, measuring tape and mathematical instrument manufacturer, for an improved measuring tape, with circular slide rule.

Jan. 1. Richard Inwood Cameron, of 12, Dorrington-street, Clerkenwell, brace manufacturer, for braces.

4. Francis Baildon Oerton, of Walsall, sadlers' ironmonger, for a revolving safety stirrup.

4. Henry Edward Thompson, of 116, Long Acre, for stands for military tables, wash-stands, and other articles of furniture requiring similar stands.