PHYSICAL ano LITERARY: 191 
tube, which was ftuck in the ground. I 
began upon the Calton-hill. ‘ 
Tue lightning and fire inthe air abound- 
ed greatly ; and yet it-was fome timeobefore 
any thing elfe appeared.’ At laft, fome:rain 
began to fall, and the air turned moifter; then 
fire appeared upon the extremities of each 
of the rods in a {mall pretty blaze: very like 
the fire which is difcharged from the point 
of a {word in the dark, when the perfon that 
holds it is ele@rified, and ftands upon glafs 
or rofin; ‘or like that which appears upon 
any fharp point, when prefented to an ele- 
ctrified gun-barrel, but in greater quantity. 
I touched the long rod with my finger; but 
had no fparks from it. The fhort rod was 
accidentally taken out of its tube, and yet 
continued to burn and blaze as formerly. In 
like manner the flame continued upon the 
end of the long rod, tho’ I took hold of it 
any where at pleafure above the glaffes, till I 
moved my hand or finger along, within a 
few inches of the flame; then it was attract- 
ed by my hand, and vanifhed. 
- IT wenr from the Calton-bill to the Cajfile- 
fill, at the other end of the town; and, in 
pafling thro’ the ftreets, no fire appeared up- 
on 
