AND LIGHTNING CONDUCTOBS. 67 



27. Case M. — In the month of June, 1840, a discharge 

 of lightning fell so near to H. M. ship Southampton, of 50 

 guns, that it appeared to strike the main-chains.* 



This vessel had fixed pointed conductors in all her masts 

 at the time of the occurrence, they having been applied two 

 years previously, f 



28. Case N. — In the year 1840, a dense explosion of 

 lightning fell close upon the quarter of H. M. ship Van- 

 guard, of 80 guns, whilst proceeding from Portsmouth to 

 the Mediterranean.^ 



29. Case O.— A discharge of lightning fell close to the 

 Dart, a steam-packet, whilst on her passage from London 

 to Margate. [| 



30. The most interesting of the last four cases is that of 

 the Southampton (Case M.), because of the certainty we 

 have of the presence of three of those conductors upon which 

 so much confidence is now placed for protection ; and of 

 the fact that the lightning, notwithstanding its near ap- 

 proach, disregarded their conduction, their points, and their 

 prominence, and found an easier transit to its destination 

 close to the side of the ship. It is one of those events that 

 would lead to the inference, that tall pointed conductors 

 may facilitate discharges of lightning in their own direction, 

 though incapable of preventing their taking another route 

 when within a certain distance of them. Moreover, analogy 

 would lead to the inference, that although the Southampton 

 fortunately escaped, it is possible that such conductors 

 might be the means of lightning falling on the deck of the 

 vessel to which they were attached. Nor does such an 

 inference rest on mere probability, it being already verified 

 by the following well-authenticated facts : — 



31. Case P.— In March 1848, at Calcutta, H. M. ship 



• Harris on Thunder Storms. f Parliamentary Return for 1849. 



X Harris on Thunder Storms. || Ibid. 



