PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 129 



Art. VIII. 



Letter from Dr B. Franklin to D.Hume, 

 Efq; on the Method of fecuring tloufa from 

 the EffeBs of Lightning. 



Londofty Jan, 2.^. i'j62» 

 DrSik, 

 N compliance with my Lord Marifliall's 

 requeft, communicated to me by you, 

 \vhen I laft had the pleafure of feeing you, 

 I now fend you what at prefent appears 

 to me to be the fliorteft and fimpleft 

 method of fecuring buildings, &c. froiTi 

 the mifchiefs of lightning. Prepare a 

 fteel rod five or fix feet long, half an 

 inch thick at its biggeft end, and ta- 

 pering to a fliarp point; which point 

 Ihould be guilt to prevent its rufling. 

 Let the big end of the rod have a llrong 

 eye or ring of half an inch diameter: Fix 

 this rod upright to the chimney or higheft 

 part of the houfe, by means of flaples, fo 

 as it may be kept fteady. Let the point- 

 ed end be upwards, and rife three or four 

 VoL.m. R feet 



