The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

STATIC ELECTRICITY.
CHAPTER V.
Static Electricity Explained-Conductors and Non-Conductors-Vitreous and
Resinous Electricity-Discovery of the Leyden Jar-Franklin's Electrical
Theories-Coulomb's Theories of Electro-Statics-Franklin's Reasons for
believing that Lightning and Electricity were Identical-Identity of Lightning and Electricity Demonstrated-The Franklin Kite Experiment-Distribution of Electricity-Phenomena of Resistance to Induction-Phenomena
of Attraction and Repulsion-Igniting Gas with the Finger-The Leyden
Jar Experiments.
STATIC ELECTRICITY EXPLAINED.
THE name, electricity, is derived from the Greek word
~sxeK-rov, which signifies amber, the first substance upon which,
electrical properties were seen.
Since the discovery of this mysterious phenomenon in nature,
the whole world has been startled from time to time, by its
extraordinary developments. It was unknown to the ancients,
and as a science, it dates with the eighteenth century.
I do not propose to discuss the intricacies of this science, except in general terms, and to a very limited extent. The facts
herein mentioned, are from many standard works.
Static electricity is more commonly called frictional electricity. The term " static" is applied, to distinguish the action
of the force excited by friction, from that excited by chemical
action. Frictional, or static electricity, exhibits itself in a state
of equilibrium, and remains comparatively at rest, except during the instant of discharge; while voltaic, or chemical electricity, appears to be constantly in motion, from one pole of the
voltaic battery to the other, and has hence been called current
electricity. Static electricity is sometimes called " electricity
at rest," and voltaic, or current, is called " electricity in motion."
The subject-matter, considered in this chapter, will be " static