306 rEEVENttON QF b^MAGE BY tIGHtNINfl. 



lightning; indeed every year this country suffers very much, 

 either by the destruction of trees, houses, and cattle, and 

 what is far more distressing, the loss of so many lives by 

 the electric fluid. I have endeavoured to form an idea of 

 the loss sustained on an average; and I iind upon a mo- 

 derate calculation, it cannot be far short per annum of 40 to 

 50 thousand pounds, and the loss of lives from 20 to 30« 

 It is of so serious a nature, that I wonder no effort has 

 been made to remove, if not wholly, at least a part of the 

 evil. Looking at it in this light, and conceiving it to be 

 .the duty of every man to endeavour to propose some re- 

 medy, 1 have taken the liberty to hand you what follows 

 for your consideration ; if you think it worth inserting in 

 your valuable Journal. 



Our kingdom from its high, and rocky nature, from its 

 bowels containing such vast masses of iron, copper, and 

 other ores, all concjuctors of lightning, and also from its 

 situation in the midst of the. waves, itself becomes a con- 

 ductor also; all these circumstances conspire to collect the 

 electric fluid together around us. If it was possible to find 

 out means to carry off this very destructive element 

 without danger, the country would experience a great and 

 invaluable benefit from it. The loss of so many lives is a 

 very serious consideration, and ought to engage the studies 

 of the philosopher and philanthropist to propose some re- 

 medy, if only for their sakes, and if it is impossible to re- 

 move the evil wholly, at least it is possible to remove it 

 ' partially. 

 Plan proposed The plan I with much deference propose, and I feel sa- 

 fer preventing iisfaction in proposing it first to you for your consideration, 

 because if you do not approve of it, it will not meet the eye 

 K)f the world, for no man is more competent to decide upon 

 its merits than yourself. The. plan is to erect at different 

 stations conductors throughout the kingdom, at 5 or 6 miles 

 jdistant, or in some instance nearer, according to the nature 

 dofthe ground, on the most elevated parts, so that wherever 

 ^the clouds moved, surcharged with the electric fluid, the 

 conductors would carry it down, so that it would be next to 

 A«vimpossibility for a collection of electric fire to accumu- 

 h;te| s© «s,^P produce *,d€iittwiti_yje di§(^liarge. I have very 



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