TO W. GARNETT, Esq.
Glenlair, 8th July 1874.
. . . In the MS. he
[Cavendish] appears to
be familiar with the theory of divided currents, and also of
conductors
in series, but some reference to his printed paper [on the Torpedo] is
required to throw light on what he says. He made a
most
extensive series of experiments on the conductivity of saline solutions
in tubes compared with wires of different metals, and
it seems as if more marks were wanted for him if he cut out G. S.
Ohm long
before constant currents were invented. His measurements of
capacity will give us some work at the Cavendish Lab.,
before we work up to the point where he left
it. His only defect is not having Thomson's electrometer. He
found
out inductive capacity of glass, resin, wax, etc.