Although there has been much discussion recently of the polarisation of light, it would have been

more appropriate to reserve this expression for electricity than for the phenomena observed by

Malus, where transparent media, reflecting surfaces, and their various reciprocal inclinations, as

well as a determinate corner of light, are actually so many different kinds of situations, which

produces no difference in light itself but does show itself in light's shining.

The conditions under which positive and negative electricity emerge, in relation to smoother or

rougher surfaces, for example, a breath of air, and so on, are proof of the superficiality of the

electrical process, and show how little the concrete, physical nature of the body enters into it.