Page:The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious.djvu/93

Rh before the Royal Socicty, that paper, ribbands, ſilk, ſattin, cloth, ſhavings, linen, goldbeaters skin, and in ſhort, almoſt all kind of ſubſtances diſcover electrical ſparks of fire in the dark: eſpecially when well warm’d before the fire, or in a cold, dry, nitrous air, and in a room where there is no company. This ſame quality is found in vacuo, as Dr. Deſaguliers ſhow’d before the Royal Society, march 31, 1720. He took an exhauſted glaſs globe, and cauſed it to be turn’d round violently, in an engine: by rubbing the hand upon it, it was illuminated within ſide, with purple ſtreams. This gave foreigners the idea of uſing a glaſs globe, in electrical experiments.

The operation of the ethereal fire is various, nay, infinite, according to its quantity, and decree of incitement, progreſs, hindrance, or furtherance. One degree keeps water fluid, ſays the learned biſhop of Cloyne: another turns it into elaſtic air, and air itſelf ſeems nothing elſe, but vapors, and exhalations render’d elaſtic, by this fire.

This ſame fire permeates, and dwells in all bodies; even diamond, flint, and ſteel. Its particles attract with the greateſt force, when approximated. Again, when united, they fly aſunder, with the greateſt force, and celerity; it reſiſts nothing quieſcent, but when put into motion, it diſdains all reſiſtance. All this is according to the laws preſcrib’d by the ſovereign architect.