The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-07

proposed by Mr.. now sir snow Harris The commission
appointed 10 examine the plan proposed by Mr.. Harris
reported that the facts stated by did not initiate
against Iney were Afterwards several times referred
IN discussion which took place the occasion Oh
churches being struck in London. They were again
brought into notice by DR.. oSnau ghnessy OF Calcutta
ao beng called upon plan for protecting powder
houses, after had been exploded by discharge OF
lightning, advised that number of rods be placed on
masts at distance from the building and gave as rea
Bon tins peculiar plan the results OF the experiments
to which have alvatd gave no opinion myself as 10
the cause the phnomena OF their practical bearing,
unnl could have opportunity to farther investigate
the subject. Even up to this time have never pub
sca the continuance of the investigation, though was
mede number OF years ago. RETAINED frsm publish
lg th with the hope OF being able to give an extended
NOR embracing many Of my researches on electricity
NY appointment, however, 10 the Office nov hold, pre-
vented my prosecuting these researches, even pre-
sentng them definite form aud suits bic dets to tue
world propose at this time TO present connected out
line Ct them and to publish them more AZ large, WIN
suitable usirat ons of the volumes OF the smith
contributions. Tine facts above alluded 70 were a.
loiows--
earth end, does not silently conduct the electricity
drown in sparks tie other end In espern sni
meter, plunged at its lower eud into the water
OF deep well, as to form as perfect o
ecticn with The earth az possihlea small bali osing
attached tho upper endand sparks passed on 10 this
from globe OF about loot in diameter. lateral sptrx
oulc be drawn from any part OF the wire and pistol q
Volta fred even the surface OF the water THIS e.
was rendered ttil more striking by attaching ball By
Of thick wire 10 the middle of the perpendclar
part oa lightning rod put up according to the dr'
French Academy when sparks Of about an inch and
htf in length were thrown on the ball spending
sparks could be drawn not only from the parts Of
the rod between the ground and the ball. but from the
part above to the top OF the rod.
IN experiment, on atmospheric electricity, the wire
from kite supported on an insulated reel, and TO
prevent accident iron crowbar was driven eighteen
inches INTO the moist earth OF held covered with grass
The wire within inch inch and half OF the
top Of the crowbsr and while vivid sparks were passing
through this space very pungent sparks could be drawn
from the crowbar within an inch or Two Of the ground
these governments IL is evident tnst Wnen elec
trcity falls upon the top OF rod exposiyey, or IN the
form OF spark il s not conducted silently the EARTH
but terd apparently 10 give of small discharge TO al
bodies in near proximity. II Is well known That point
brought electrical michice IN fun action ds
charges the eec lefty silently b. contucuon, without
producing that sudden rupture Of the air called spark
When however, q rod, with ball at one end and point
ed the other presented 10 tue conductor OF tire ma
chine and the spark received ON The BAH spark viii
be given OF this from the point, and may also be
received on another point
receives electricity exposively tends to throw il oil
exposlvely.
in electricity that when discharge from yden jar Is
passed through the ordinary cscharging rod with
a glass handle q feeble spark may be obtained
from the rod al the moment OF the passage the
city This phenomenon has been properly REFERRED oy
Blot! to the redundant electricity which always exists o.
the side The Jar, and due to the want OF perfect
account of the thickness of the glass
The truth Of this hypothesis vas shown by catching the
sequer,y bringing this gold leaf eectrometer 10
this way found that the lateral spark vas always OF
the same kind namely plus or minus as tne reaundan.
spark was also increased in corresponding degree.
This readily effected by replacing the small knob
of the charged jar by large ball and an extreme result
was proc uced ~ feet ia length ter
by bale Of about IL inches diameter, cnarg
ed and spa ks thrown from upon insulated line cop
per WIRE bundred yards in length, with ball at eacl
end In tLis the wire, which was supported hofi-
zonally by six threads became luminous from end
the ether gh divergng rays on all sides, Ike the
trstlcs q rcrca prush. used for cleaning bottles
The Phenomena indicated an elastic acton and would
taf4 IN
electric fluid, namely inertia, without weight
when the long wire was doubled upon itself
disappeared on the inner sites and were ex
nb,ed with increased length on the oth'r. This was
best exhibited with shorter wire and illustrated the re
pulsive acton Of ell cfricity in molten.
These last effects are reaciy reieraoe 10 the repusye
action Of free electricity coupled as have stated before,
When discharge passes through conductor il tends
10 expand in the manner as II does IN sstcal con
dtion and from this may inter that electricity 10
large conc uc,or nds move the surface while
gayanc electricity which possesses very feeble, any,
reprsise eresy psses ,o"gp Tue sesnS
lion that tho contrasting power is dresty
ey !, has been srpposed that ordinary electricity
pervsdod the whole mass and this IS probably the
when the diameter Of the conductor y small IN pro portion
TO quartity OF the discharge The fact however has
not as am informed, oeen shown by experiment
that the electricity really PAGES al the surface when the
conductor IL OF sucen size To ascertain whether th
vas the case piece OF copper bell coed In the
middle OF lis lei 9Th into the iorm o. helix, and this fas
tened in the axis OF piece q gas pipe, Of about c
long the helix supported 10 the middle Of the
hollow cylinder without touching the SIDES In order 20
make metallic contact bcSeen the copper wire IN the ax-
the internal surface OF the cylinder quantity OF tin
foil was crowded around the Toe ends OF
the wire were lett projecting snt the helix within was
fu n.shed with large sized sewing needle fu dis-
rnar &c from Leyden then sent through the COP
per wire tue needle then taken from the helix and
examined, hut exhibited no trace Of magnet m. Hai
the quantity Of electricity followed the copper wire
shich was . much better conductor than the irc, at
had passed throug1 the spires OF the helix an1
the needle. would have megnetlzed ine latter The
fact that the needle urmagntuzed shows that the
electricity len the good conductor 10 pass through the
exterior iron cylinder. To render this result still
evident the helix and wire were removed from the
ins de a the cas- pipe ard placed the outside
IL; each md OF the wire wound several times around
ne cylinder as to form a good metallic contact 4,
this sIraneemoLt when eischarge was passed from
Isyden tn ough the iron cy nGer portion at least o
the electricity et u and passed through the wider circuit
Of tho wire, and strongly magnezsd the needle 10 the
series Of experiments also made in passing cleo
rcty through water and also thFoagn large discs Of
metal, with some curious results
From ali these pernerts evi5en; That electricity
tends repe itself and the atoms to separate from each
otfer widely possible whether they are at rest
There another influence, however, which tends. rs
We shall hereafter 10 neaaiza this expansive
The lateral SPARK which appears between principle Con
Gucior and conducting body In IL lmmed ,te vicinity,
but partially Que to the repus &c energy q the free elec
tricity, and Ia connected with series Of phenomcns
which deserve special attention. When discharge from
Ieydcn jar with the Knob removed so 10 lesscn
u
lopg wire, II the engih be sufficiently great sparks NAV
be obtained from . lateral conductor placed at right
angles 70 the direction Of the PRINCIPAL conductor
II the ends Of the lateral conductor each furnished with
a small ball be brought nSar t7e principal one bot toe
balls Of the dstsncc q twenty feet from each other 81
the instant Of discharge Of Leyden through the prn
cipal conductor, brant spark will be each ball
IL the wire which torms the lateral nductor be dvdei
into two parts ~ the middle and spiral be introduced
the magnetism Of the enclosed needle viii Indicate
In the adverse direction 70 that from the jar. n
the two balls lie brought nearer TO each other tie
magnetism VIII be diminished and IN some cases re.
versed
Agaia, IL powerful discharge from Leyden jar with
tho knot removed, be sent through a long wire.
say nny icct, and the knob Of a small Jar be
brought the wire al the middle a bright
SPARK will appear between the knob OF the Jar and the
wire. Though the spark may appear quite intense and
brilliant yet when the jar examined II Il found 70
tain scarcely any electricity. II delicate silver leaf
eeoromeer be substituted that the SPARK may appear
between the top Of and the wire brilliant spark will
be observed contain apparently sufficient electricity "
drawn prime conductor 10 the delicate leaves
Of metal In pieces and yet the remarkable appa
rcnt that the electrometer Is unaffected.
results and series of other a1r