e fibres
being present in the water. When, from the evolution of gas and the
consequent increased pressure, the bubbles formed on the electrodes were so
small as to produce but feebly ascending currents, then it could be
observed that the filaments present were attracted and repelled between the
two wires, as they would have been between two oppositely charged surfaces
in air or oil of turpentine, moving so quickly as to displace and disturb
the bubbles and the currents which these tended to form. Now I think it
cannot be doubted, that under similar circumstances, and with an abundant
supply of electricity, of sufficient tension also, convective currents
might have been formed; the attractions and repulsions of the filaments
were, in fact, the elements of such currents (1572.), and therefore water,
though almost infinitely above air or oil of turpentine as a conductor, is
a medium in which similar currents can take place.

1606. I had an apparatus made (fig. 142.) in which _a_ is a plate of
shell-lac, _b_ a fine platina wire passing through it, and having only the
section of the wire exposed above; _c_ a ring of bibulous paper resting on
the shell-lac, and _d_ distilled water retained by the paper in its place,
and just sufficient in quantity to cover the end of the wire _b_; another
wire, _e_, touched a piece of tinfoil lying in the water, and was also
connected with a discharging train; in this way it was easy, by rendering
_b_ either positive or negative, to send a current of electricity by its
extremity into the fluid, and so away by the wire _e_.

1607. On connecting _b_ with the conductor of a powerful electrical
machine, not the least disturbance of the level of the fluid over the end
of the wire during the working of the machine could be observed; but at the
same time there was not the smallest indication of electrical charge about
the conductor of the machine, so complete was the discharge. I conclude
that the quantity of electricity passed in a _given time_ had been too
small, when compared with the conducting power of the fluid to produce the
desired effect.

1608. I then charged a large Leyden battery (291.), and discharged it
through the wire _b_, interposing, however, a wet thread, two feet long, to
prevent a spark in the water, and to reduce what would else have been a
sudden violent discharge into one of more moderate character, enduring for
a sensible length of time (334.). I now did obtain a very brie