140 Of Traversing Thunder-Clouds, 



been heeling greatly to the other side, and hence the end of the 

 chain must necessarily have been elevated out of the water ; un- 

 fortunately we cannot say y)recisely how much, and this circum- 

 stance weakens considerably the force of the conjecture. 



On board La Junon, every one was convinced that the light- 

 ning quitted the conductor, because of the very violent wind 

 which was hloxving at the moment. I have no intention in the 

 world, of supporting this explanation ; whilst, on the other 

 hand, I will not be so bold as to maintain it is not worthy of ex- 

 amination. Behind the conducting chain, as behind the cord- 

 age, masts, &c., there must have been, in virtue of an hydraulic 

 phenomenon, well known under the name of the lateral commu- 

 nication of motion, a sort of void, in other words, a small space 

 in which the atmospheric pressure was considerably weakened. 

 Now, without hesitation to deny all influence to this decided di- 

 minution of pressure, would not be in the spirit of philosophy, 

 and especially in connection with so many physical observations, 

 which will ere long be detailed, when we compare the phenome- 

 na of artificial electricity with those of lightning. 



Thus have we considered the various data upon which we may 

 be advised not to run, when in immediate danger from a thun- 

 der-storm. And now the inquiry remains, whether, in the cir- 

 cumstances, the diminution of the risk, by remaining motionless, 

 or walking gently, is a sufficient compensation for the annoyance 

 of being thoroughly drenched by the pelting shower. 



Are the clouds tvhence thunder and lightning are incessantly issuing^ 

 so constituted, as some natural philosophers suppose, that it is very 

 , dangerous to traverse them ? 



The intimate constitution of clouds is too imperfectly known 

 to enable us to appreciate, from theoretic considerations alone, 

 the danger which would be incurred by approaching too near to 

 the centre and focus of a thunder-storm. Upon this point, the 

 general opinion appears to me rather a matter of feeling than the 

 result of any serious discussion. Those high black clouds often 

 hurl destruction, and burning, and death, from a distance ! 

 What, then, would they not do were you near ? Volta himself 

 had probably no other guide than this general feeling, when in 



