BY PROF.  L. WEBER.

I will try to give a short report of some experiments I have made during the last year in regard to atmospheric electricity.  It was formerly uncertain whether the electrostatic potential would increase by rising from the surface of the earth to more elevated region of the atmosphere or not, and also whether the potential in a normal—­that is, cloudless—­state of the atmosphere was always positive or sometimes negative.  Sir William Thomson found by exact methods of measuring that the increase of the potential with elevation is very important, and values about 100 volts per meter.  That fact is proved by many other observers, especially lately by Mr. F. Exner, at Vienna, who found an increase of 60 to 600 volts per meter.  The observations were made by means of an electrometer.  In respect of many inconveniences which are connected with the use of an electrometer, I have tried the measurements with a very sensitive galvanometer.  In this case it is necessary to apply a separating air exhaust apparatus, for example flame, or a system of points at the upper end of the conductor, which is elevated in the atmosphere.  In order to get a constant apparatus, I have used 400 of the finest needles inserted in a metallic ribbon.  This system I have raised in the air by means of a captive balloon, or by a kite, which was attached to a conductor of twine or to a twisted line of the finest steel wire.  In this way I have attained a height of 100 to 300 meters.  When the lower end of the kite line was communicating with the galvanometer whose other terminal was in contact with the earth, a current passed through the galvanometer.  For determining the strength of this current I proposed to called a micro-ampere the 10^{-9} part of an ampere.  At the height of about 100 meters in the average the current begins to be regular, and increases at the height of 300 meters to 4,000 or 5,000 of these units.  The increase is very regular, and seems to be a linear function of the height.  I have, nevertheless, found the smallest quantities of dust contained in the atmosphere or the lightest veil of cirrus disturbed the measurement very materially, and generally made the potential lower.  In negative experiments of this nature I have made at Breslau, at the Sohneekoppe, and at the “Reisengebirge,” especially at the last station, an increase of potential was observed, not only by reason of the perpendicular height, but also by reaching such regions of the atmosphere as were situated horizontally to about 200 meters from the utmost steep of the same mountain, Sohneekoppe.  Therefore it must, according to Mr. Exner, be assumed that the surface of the air presents a surface of equal potential, and that the falling surfaces of high potential were stretched parallel over the plane contours of the air, and more thinly or narrow lying over all the elevated points, as, for example, mountains, church towers, etc.  On the basis of these facts