PHYSICAL AND LITERARY 133 



The firft was fome years fince, on the 

 houfe of Mr Raven, at John's Ifland, near 

 Charleftown, South Cirolina. As the 

 fize of a condudor fufficient for convey- 

 ing the lightning could only be difcover- 

 ed by experience, this gentleman has ufed 

 fmall brafs wire to connedl the upper and 

 lower rods. It went down on the outfide 

 of his chimney, which ftood at the end of 

 the houfe Within the chimney ftood, 

 leaning againft the back, a mufket or gun. 

 The lightning pafTed in the wire, fmall as 

 it was, except where furniihed with a bet- 

 ter condudor by the gun-barrel, between 

 the top of which and the wire it made 

 a very fmall hole through the wall 

 and in that place, and all above it, 

 melted and fepa rated the wire. If I 

 liftake not,> (for 1 write this from me- 

 lory only), fome hurt to the lower part 

 )f the gun-flock, and a few bricks of the 

 learth broken up, was all the damage 

 lone at this houfe: And this being afcri- 

 )ed to the fmallnefs of the wire, which 

 [pccafioned the lightning to deviate into 



the 



