and metals. We had even discovered and demonstrated its afflux to
the electrical sphere, as well as its efflux, by means of little,
light windmill wheels made of stiff paper vanes fixed obliquely, and
turning freely on fine wire axes; also by little wheels of the same
matter, but formed like water-wheels. Of the disposition and
application of which wheels, and the various phenomena resulting, I
could, if I had time, fill you a sheet. The impossibility of
electrizing one's self, though standing on wax, by rubbing the tube,
and drawing the fire from it; and the manner of doing it by passing
it near a person or thing standing on the floor, etc., had also
occurred to us some months before. Mr. Watson's ingenious _Sequel_
came to hand; and these were some of the new things I intended to
have communicated to you. But now I need only mention some
particulars not hinted in that piece, with our reasonings thereupon;
though perhaps the latter might well enough be spared.

"1. A person standing on wax and rubbing the tube, and another
person on wax drawing the fire, they will both of them (provided
they do not stand so as to touch one another) appear to be
electrized to a person standing on the floor; that is, he will
perceive a spark on approaching each of them with his knuckle.

"2. But if the persons on wax touch one another during the exciting
of the tube, neither of them will appear to be electrized.

"3. If they touch one another after exciting the tube, and drawing
the fire as aforesaid, there will be a stronger spark between them
than was between either of them and the person on the floor.

"4. After such strong spark neither of them discover any
electricity.

"These appearances we attempt to account for thus: We suppose, as
aforesaid, that electrical fire is a common element, of which every
one of the three persons above mentioned has his equal share, before
any operation is begun with the tube. _A_, who stands on wax and
rubs the tube, collects the electrical fire from himself into the
glass; and, his communication with the common stock being cut off by
the wax, his body is not again immediately supplied. _B_ (who stands
on wax likewise), passing his knuckle along near the tube, receives
the fire which was collected by the glass from _A_; and his
communication with the