3d 



II. — On some Peculiarities of the Thunderstorm which 

 occurred in this neighbourhood on Tuesday > the 16 th 

 of July last. 



By the late Mr. William Sturgeon, Prestwich. — (Com- 

 municated by Mr. Joule.) 



{Read March 4M, 1856.] 



The principal characteristics, of this storm, that I have to 

 notice in this communication, are, unusual displays of light- 

 ning, and the effects of electrical disturbances caused by it at 

 a distance from the primitive discharge. 



This storm, which commenced in the afternoon, was ex- 

 perienced on every side of Manchester at nearly the same 

 time. On the road near to Bury, the lightning killed a 

 young man and the horse he was riding on. It was exceed- 

 ingly violent over Bolton and Blackburn ; also at Liverpool 

 and Northwich. As the principal part of the storm never 

 reached this place, I had an opportunity of exploring the 

 atmosphere, by means of an electric kite, without apprehen- 

 sion of danger, although many thunder-clouds passed slowly 

 over during the time. I got the kite afloat, with 300 yards of 

 string out, a little before six in the evening, and kept it up 

 till nearly eight. During this time the storm was raging 

 over Bolton. The lightning was very frequent and brilliant, 

 notwithstanding the bright daylight it had to contrast with. 



The discharges from the kite-string were occasionally both 

 frequent and powerful, and at other times, but seldom and 

 feeble ; which is frequently the case in the vicinity of thunder- 

 storms. But in all cases, whether the sparks were large or 



