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ELE

Elector, is particularly, and by Way of Eminence, ufed for the Princes of Germany, in whom lyes the right of elect- ing the Emperor ; being all foveraign Princes, and the principal Members of the Empire. See College of Electors.

The Origin of EleBors is not well known : Some refer St to Otho III, in the Year 997 5 others to Frederic II, who died in 1250; and others, to Raoul of Hapsburg, Pounder of the Family of Auflria, in the Year 1280.

Their Number, however, was unfettled, at leaft till the Time of Frederic II, in the 13 th Century. The Golden Bull, published by Charles IV, in 1345, fix'd the Number of EleBors to feven ; three of them EccleSiaStics, viz. the ArchbiShops of Mentz, Treves, and Cologne ; and four Se- culars, viz. the King of 'Bohemia, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony, and the Marquefs of Br an- denburgh. By the Treaty of Munfter, in 1648, this Order ■was changed : The Duke of Bavaria being put in the Place of the Count Palatine, and an eighth EleBorate erected for the Count Palatine.

In the Year itfyS, a ninth Eletlorate was created by the Emperor Leopold, in Favour of Ernejl Duke of Ha- nover, under the Title of EleBor of Brunfivick. Some Opposition was made to this Erection j and the Princes of Germany flood out for fome Time, and refufed to ac- knowledge it. But they afterwards acquiefced in it, and it has been recognifed by all the foreign Princes. The King of France did it at laft by the Treaty of Raftad.

The feveral Functions of the EleBors are as follow : The EleBor of Mentz, is Chancellor of Germany ; con- vokes the States, and gives his Vote before any one of the reft. The EleBor of Cologne, is grand Chancellor of Italy, and confecrates the Emperor. The EleBor of Treves, is Grand Chancellor of the Gauls, and confers the Imposition of Hands on the Emperor. The Count Palatine of the Rhine is Grand Matter of the Imperial Palace, and pre- fents the Emperor with a Globe at his Coronation. The Marquefs of Brandenburgh is grand Chamberlain, and puts the Ring on the Emperor's Finger. The Duke ot Saxony, now King of Poland, is Grand Marihai, and gives the Sword to the Emperor. The King of Bohemia, who was antiently only Duke, is Grand Butler, and puts Charlemaigu's Crown on the Emperor's Head. Laitly, the Prince of Hanover, now King of Great Britain, is Arch- Treafurer 5 tho' firft erected under the Title ot Standard- Bearer of the Empire.

ELECTORAL, fomething relating, or belonging, to an EleBor. See Elector.

The EleBoral 'Prince is the eldeft Son of an EleBor, and the prefumptive Heir of his Dignity.

Electors are addrefs'd under the Title of EleBoral Higlonefjes. See Highness.

The EleBoral College, confifting of all the Electors of the Empire, is the molt Uluftrious and Augufl Body in Europe. Bellarmine and Baronius attribute the Initia- tion of the EleBoral College to Pope Gregory V. And the Emperor Otho III, in the X th Century. Of which Opinion, are the Generality of Hiftorians, and particularly the Ca- nonifls. But Wicquefort is of another Opinion j and en- deavours to make it appear, from the Elections of the fucceeding Princes, that the Number of Electors was not then Six'd 5 nor the EleBoral Dignity annex'd to any par- ticular Principalites, exclusive of the other Princes ot Ger- many. He adds, that there was nothing fettled with Regard hereto before Charles IV $ and that the Publication of his Golden Bull, was only to prevent Schifms, and fecure the Repoie of the Kingdom by a Regulation in Form.

'Twas the Golden Bull, therefore, publifh'd in 1356", that constituted the EleBoral College, and reduced the Number of Electors to feven. See College.

Electoral Crotvn, or Coronet, is a Scarlet Cap, turn'd up with Ermine, clofed with a Semi-circle of Gold, all cover'd with Pearls. On the Top is a Globe with a Crofs thereon. See Crown and Coronet.

ELECTORATE, the Dignity of an Ekaor, with the Territory, or Dominions, to which the Quality is annex'd. The EleBorate of Saxony, of Bavaria, &c. The Em- peror, of his own Special Authority, in the Year I1JJ2, erected a ninth EleBorate, in Favour of the Houfe of Lunenbttrgh. The Princes, who difputed the Validity of this Election, were called the Oppofers of the ninth EleBorate.

Tho' the Cuftom ordinarily be, in Germany, for the Sons of Princes to Ihare their Father's Lands and Territories among them ; thofe whereto the EleBorate is attach'd, are not ufed to be divided 5 but pafs entire to the eldeit Son, who fucceeds to the EleBorate.

ELECTRICITY, or ELECTRIC Force, is that Power, or Property, whereby Amber, Jet, Sealing-Wax, Agat, Glafs, and molt Kinds of precious Stones, attract Straws, Paper, and other light Bodies to themfelves. See At- traction.

EleBricity differs from Magnetifm in this that the latter only attracts Iron, whereas the former indifferently attracts moft Kinds of Bodies 5 tho' the Effect is only fenlible in light ones. See Magnetism.

The Peripateticks hold this Power to coniift in I know not what Quality, or fympathetick Power, fubflfting be- tween the Amber, e. gr. and the Straw, and refulting from the fubftantial Form of each. See Quality.

But the later Philofophers generally agree to make it the Effect of a corporeal Effluvium, emitted from, and returning to, the Elearical Body. Tho' as to the Nature of thefe Effluvia, and the Manner of their acting, they are greatly divided. See Effluvia.

Some, with Cabceus, fuppofe actual Steams to iffue out of the EleBric Body, when agitated by Attrition ; and that thefe difcufs and repel the ambient Air, which, after it has been driven off a little Way, makes, as it were, a little Whirlwind, by the ReSiftance it meets withal in the remoter Air, to which thefe EleBric Steams did not reach 1 And that thefe Steams Shrinking quickly back again to the attracting Body, do, in their Return, attra;t and bring along with them fuch light and Small Bodies as they meet in their Way.

Others, with Dr. Gilbert, Gaffendus, Sir Kenelm 2)igby, Sic. hold, that on rubbing, or charing, the EleBric Body is made to emit Rays, or Fibres, of an unctuous Nature ; which coming to be condenfcd and cool'd by the ambient Air, do lofe their Agitation, and fo Shrink back again into the Body from which they fallied ; and by that Means carry along with them fuch light and Small Bodies, as happen to be faften'd, or Sticking to their further Ends. Gaffendus adds, that thefe unctuous Effluvia being emitted all Manner of Ways, do frequently decuffate, or crofs each other ; and by that Means take the better hold of Straw, (Sc. The Carteftans, not being able to imagine how fo hard and brittle a Body as Glafs, Should emit Effluvia j attri- bute EleBricity to the Globules of the firSt Element ; which breaking out thro' the Pores, or Chinks of the Body, like little Darts or Swords, and not meeting with proper Meatus's, or Paffagcs in the Air, return whence they came, and carry the little Bodies, whofe Pores they happen to enter, and be entangled in, along with them.

Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hawksbee, &c. have made a Number of Experiments, to afcertain the Nature and Laws of EleBricity ; the Refult whereof may be fumm'd up under the tallowing Articles.

1. That EleBrical Bodies do not at all, or very rarely attract, except when warm'd, and thereby iblliciicd to emit Effluvia more copioufly.

Mr. Hauksbee, having heated a Glafs Tube, of about an Inch Diameter, and 30 Inches long, by rubbing it vehe- mently on Paper ; and then applying it to feveral Pieces of Leaf Brafs, found, that they were no fooner within the Sphere of Activity of the Effluvia emitted by the Tube, than they began to be put into very brifk and furprizinp Motions 5 would leap toward the Tube, even at the Di- Stance of 12 or 14 Inches; would fometimes adhere, and fatten to the Tube, fettle on its Surface, and there re- main quiet : and fometimes be thrown off from it with a great Force. And thus would they be alternately at- tracted and repell'd, for feveral Times fucceffi rely. Some- times, again, they would move Slowly toward the Tube; fometimes, would remain fufpended between the Tube and the Table they were firSt laid on ; and fometimes Slide along in that Direction of the Side of the Tube, without touching it.

2. That Bodies, warm'd by Fire, don't attract fo for- cibly, as when heated by rubbing ; tho' if they be firft heated, and then rubb'd, they will attract the more Strongly.

Mr. Hauksbee affures us, that the hotter he made °he Tube by rubbing, to the greater Distance did the attractive Fotce extend it Self: But that this would anfwer, in Pro- portion, to any Degree of Heat excited, he will not under- take. "When the Tube was render'd the hottest by the flrongeft Attrition, the Force of the Effluvia was render'd manifest to another Senfe, namely that of feeling, being plainly perceived on the Face, or any other tender Part, making Strokes or Smpulfes on the Skin, much like thofe made by pufhing a Number of limber Hairs againft it.

3. That Teriion, or Wiping, is almott univer'f'ally necef- fary, as well as Attrition, or rubbing, to produce Electricity $ by Reafon the Effluvia can more readily efcape, when there is nothing to Stop up, or choak the Pores.

4. That the Interposition of the fineil Linnen, as Muflin, Gaufe, or the like, will totally hinder the Operation of EleBrical Bodies.

5. The Effect is Icfs fenlible in thick and cloudy Wea- ther. For the Air being clogg'd with Vapours and Exha- lations rais'd from below, the Refiflance the EleBric Effluvia meet withal, muft be greater than when the Air is free of any fuch Impediments. Hence, alfo, in all Pro- bability,