In this early paper, Maxwell began developing his mathematical representation of Faraday's lines of force, which were lines conceptualized to visualize the magnetic and electric fields. He used analogies to fluid dynamics to understand electromagnetic phenomena, laying the groundwork for his later work.

Maxwell published a series of papers under this title, where he introduced the concept of a 'molecular vortex,' envisioning space as filled with tiny vortices that transmitted electromagnetic forces. This model, though eventually discarded in its mechanical details, led to the development of the displacement current.

As mentioned before, this publication is the culmination of Maxwell's earlier work. He presents the four Maxwell's equations that describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields and their relationship to electric charges and currents. The equations predicted electromagnetic waves that could propagate through space, traveling at the speed of light.

Maxwell published his two-volume 'Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism,' which provided a comprehensive and systematic exposition of his electromagnetic theory. This work became the standard textbook on the subject and significantly influenced the development of physics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It cemented the unification of electricity, magnetism, and light.