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XXII. On the Use of Lightning-Conductors in India, with 

 reference to a passage in Mr. Snow Harris's work on Thunder- 

 Storms. By W. B. O'Shaughnessy, M.D.,F.R.S., Hon. 

 East India Company's Service. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 

 Gentlemen, 

 TN the work just published by Mr. Snow Harris on " Thun- 

 * der Storms," there appears at p. 1 77, an assertion that " the 

 Governor-General and Council of the Honourable East India 

 Company were led to order the lightning rods to be removed 

 from their powder magazines and other public buildings, 

 having in the year 1838 come to the conclusion, from certain 

 representations of their scientific officers, that lightning rods 

 were attended with more danger than advantage." Mr. Harris 

 then refers in a note to Correspondence between the Honour- 

 able Court of Directors, Mr. Daniell, and myself, as his au- 

 thority for this statement. 



As this assertion of Mr. Harris is altogether unfounded on 

 fact, and is moreover calculated to do me serious injury, I 

 beg permission, as a subscriber of many years to your excel- 

 lent Journal, to offer proof in your pages that no such mea- 

 sures as those specified by Mr. Harris were ever recom- 

 mended or carried into effect in Bengal by the parties, or at 

 the time he mentions. 



I inclose (No. 1) a copy of the report by the civil architect 

 of Fort William, showing that in 1838, by my suggestion and 

 advice, additional conductors were erected on and around the 

 Government House of Calcutta. 



I also inclose a copy of a note with which I have been fa- 

 voured by Lord Auckland, showing that no orders were given 

 to remove the conductors from public buildings in India; 

 that the powder magazines in that country had not been pro- 

 vided with conductors previously to 1840; and that the only 

 discussion which occurred there, was as to the number and 

 position of the rods to be erected for the protection of such 

 buildings. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, 



Your obedient Servant, 

 W. B. O'Shaughnessy, M.D., F.R.S., 

 Upper Bagot-street, Dublin, H.E.I.Co.'s Service. 



Aug. 7, 1843. 



(No. I.) 



Report by Captain Fitzgerald on the accident by Lightning to 



Government House, Calcutta. 



"Fort William, 30th March, 1838. 

 " Sir, — I have the honour to report for the information of 

 the Military Board, that the Government House was struck by 

 Phil. Mag. S. 3. Vol. 23. No. 1 5 1 . Sept. 1843. N 



