instant

stant a neutralization of the electricity or destruction of the electric effect occurs. To this property must be attributed the reason why the pile magnetizes some metals, which are not magnetized to a sensible degree by the magnet; for although these metals have not the power of retaining the magnetic charge, and suffer more or less every neutralization of the communicated electricities; yet as the pile establishes this electric tension each moment, it is impossible that these metals should not exhibit its" effect; that is to say, the transverse or magnetic charge. The case is the same with the electric spark, because, the electric spark is nothing else than a connecting wire formed by the air, as is proved by the experiments of Sir H. Davy, by the magnetic property of the electric spark.

This activity of the pile prevents, at the same time, the fixed arrangement of the poles in the periphery of the connecting wire, as produced by common magnetization. If, for example, the connecting wire has any kind of prismatic form, the pole of angle Si, fig. 5, which was south, becomes north, when the bar is turned, until the angle Si occupies the place of the angle N 2; and the angle N i, which was north, becomes south, when it enters the place of the angle Si,*

=

(

1.

According to this, the researches into the phenomena of the electrical connecting wire resolve into this simple question: Why is a conducting body connecting the two electrical poles charged transversely? The answer to this question enters into the theory of electricity in general, and I shall probably find an opportunity of returning to it. The properties of the transverse electrical charge form a new branch in the theory of electricity. The facts stated readily lead to the result that every transverse electrical charge is magnetic. The reason is, that in the transverse electrical charge, the electrical poles approach each other infinitely near, and on account of this approximation, their tension is increased. Let us suppose that two weak electrical poles. of the intensity are capable of giving the longitudinal elec-trical charge to a metallic wire of 100 feet long, and the thousandth of an inch in thickness, and that this longitudinal charge becomes changed into a transverse electrical charge, then the intensity of the poles at the periphery will be greater than 1200000 i. As two very weak electrical poles are capable of giving an electrical charge to a much longer metallic wire, it follows that the electrical tension of the poles in the connecting wire must be very great, in comparison with common electrical tensions, for which the air still preserves its non-conducting power, although it is diminished on account of this tension. balt is this great electrical tension of the transverse charge, which makes the metals red-hot, and volatilizes them. This constant sand infinitely great electrical tension is magnetic; for electri✦ These references are not in the figure, but being apprehensive that I might alter the sense, I have not attempted to supply the deficiency.-Ed.

city whose tension is so considerable, that to it all non-conductors become conductors, and some bodies only which were before conductors, become on account of the state of their internal cohesion non-conductors, can only be magnetism.

This

I have shown in a memoir in the first number of Gilbert's Annales for 1821. If the air were not a non-conductor of electricity, we should not be acquainted with common electricity, but only with magnetism.

ARTICLE II.

Meteorological Account of the Weather during the Three Winter Months of the Years 1821 and 1822, kept at Jasmond, New castle-upon-Tyne. With Observations on the Time of the Flowering of various Plants. By N. J. Winch, Esq.

SIR,

(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.)

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April S, 1822. CONCEIVING a meteorological account of the weather during the three winter months of the years 1821 and 1822 as it occurred in the north-east of England, may afford amusement to some of your numerous readers, I take the liberty of transmitting an abstract of a journal kept at Jasmond in the vicinity of this town, by Mr. Losh, and kindly communicated by him for that purpose. Together with observations on the state of the weather, notes on the time of the flowering of various plants are interspersed, which, with some general remarks, will serve to convey a correct idea of the mildest winter experienced in this part of the island within the memory of man.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

N. J. WINCH.

Jasmond, one mile north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, about 200 feet above the level of the river Tyne. Lat. 55° N.

1821.-Nov. 30. This has in general been a mild and pleasant month, favourable to vegetation, and to all kind of farming operations. There were, however, during it, two or three very heavy storms of wind, one in particular in the night of the 30th, perhaps as violent for two or three hours as any within the memory of man. As, however, the wind blew from the W, no great injury has been done by it to the shipping on the coast.

Plants in Flower.-China rose, Portland thorn heath (Erica carnea), jasmine mignonette, purple groundsel, stocks, pansey hollyhocks, wall flowers, carnation, colchicum, gentianella, viola, auricula, primula, Canterbury bell.

Plants in Flower.-China rose; wall flowers, single and double; stocks, single and double; gentianella (gentiana acaulis); sweet pea; heath (Erica carnea), polyanthus, auricula primula; pansey; blue hepatica; carnations.

The flowers of many of the above, as the carnation, sweet pea, &c. are very feeble, but still sufficient to show the remarkable mildness of the season, or rather the remarkable want of frost. We have not as yet this winter had snow on the ground, nor any frost beyond slight occasional morning hoar frosts. I have never seen the mercury below the freezing point. We have had a good deal of heavy rain, but still in this district scarcely our average quantity; and from the long continued drought in the summer and autumn, I am inclined to think that more would be beneficial. Though, during this month, we have had no very violent wind, yet we have had frequent windy weather, and it