some other ethereal fluid, either those of heat and light or of some
new one not yet observed. Whence it becomes difficult to explain,
according to the theory of Dr. Franklin, which way the electric fluid
passed; and which side of the coated jar contained positive and which
the negative charge according to that doctrine.

But the theory of the ingenious Dr. Franklin failed also in explaining
other phenomena of the coated jar; since if the positive electricity
accumulated on one side of the jar repelled the electricity from the
coating on the other side of it, so as to produce an electric vacuum;
why should it be so eager, when a communication is made by some
conducting body, to run into that vacuum by its attraction or
gravitation, which has been made by its repulsion; as thus it seems to
be violently attracted by the vacuum, from which it had previously
repelled a fluid similar to itself, which is not easily to be
comprehended.

3. There is another mode by which either vitreous or resinous electric
ether is capable of condensation; which consists in contracting the
volume, so as to diminish the surface of the electrised body; as was
ingeniously shown by Dr. Franklin's experiment of electrising a silver
tankard with a length of chain rolled up within it; and then drawing
up the chain by a silk string, which weakened the electric attraction
of the tankard; which was strengthened again by returning the chain
into it; thus the condensation of an electrised cloud is believed to
condense the electric ether, which it contains, and thus to occasion
the lightning passing from one cloud to another, or from a cloud into
the earth.

This experiment of the chain and tankard is said to succeed as well with
what is termed negative electricity in the theory of Dr. Franklin, as
with what is termed positive electricity; but in that theory the
negative electricity means a less quantity or total deprivation or
vacuity of that fluid; now to condense negative electricity by lowering
the suspended chain into the tankard ought to make it less negative;
whereas in this experiment I am told it becomes more so, as appears by
its stronger repulsion of cork balls suspended on silk strings, and
previously electrised by rubbed sealing wax: and if the negative
electricity be believed to be a perfect vacuum of it, the condensation
of a vacuum of electricity is totally incomprehensible; and this
experiment alone seems to demonstrate the existence o