Electricity," all his own results appeared to fall in naturally with
the general views therein explained. He considers, that the direction
of the force through an electrolyte may be expressed in the very
words employed in that paper to describe that of the direct inductive
force in statical electricity, simply substituting the term Electrolyte
for Dielectric, and the term Current for Induction.
Experiments are further described, in which the effects of various combinations of different generating and conducting surfaces, placed at different distances apart, were measured by the calorific galvanometer, from which the following conclusions are drawn:
1st. That the energy of the force is about sextupled by the absorption of the hydrogen at the conducting surface; except in the case of equal plates, when it is more than quadrupled.
2nd. That the effect of distance is much more decided in the instances where the amount of the circulating force is greater, than in the contrary cases.
3rd. That the amount of force put into circulation from a large surface of zinc towards a central ball of copper, is, as in former instances of similar combinations, about one half of that from the reverse arrangement.
4th. That a ball of zine, exposing a surface of 3.14 square inches, placed over the centre of a plate of copper, exposing on its two sides a surface of 28 square inches, sustains an action of nearly the same amount as a plate of zinc, of the same dimensions as the copper, placed at the same distance.
In conclusion, the author remarks, that the principal circumstance which limits the power of an active point within a conducting sphere, in any given electrolyte, is the resistance of that electrolyte, which increases in a certain ratio to its depth or thickness; and this thickness may virtually be considered the same wherever the included point may be placed, but increases with the diameter of the sphere. In an insulated hemisphere, however, the approximation of the active point to the lower surface virtually decreases the thickness of the electrolyte, and consequently the force increases. In this respect, the action of a point upon a plate may be considered the same as upon an indefinitely large hemisphere, towards which, as the point approaches, the force increases.
February 8, 1838
STEPHEN PETER RIGAUD, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.
George Lowe, Esq., who, at the Anniversary of 1836, had ceased to be a Fellow, from the non-payment of his annual contributions, was, at this meeting, re-admitted by ballot into the Society, agreeably to the provision of the Statutes.
James Bateman, Esq.; Joseph Glynn, Esq.; William Hallows Miller, Esq., M.A.; the Rev. Joseph Bancroft Reade, M.A.; Robert Bentley Todd, M.D.; and Alexander Tweedie, M.D., were elected Fellows
