CLIMATE of RUSSIA. 223 



great power of our eledlrical machines, and from feveral other 

 phenomena too curious to be pafled over in filence. 



The moft ftriking of thefe is the appearance of a flame, on 

 drawing a flannel cover off a filk chair, or on rubbing with a 

 woolen cloth the filk hangings of an apartment. On this laft 

 operation, a flame was feen running along the gold-laced bor- 

 der, to the great amazement of the Imperial fervants, to whom 

 thefe alarming meteors appeared, on dufting the apartments of 

 the palace in a dark winter morning, as I remember to have 

 heard at the time, though many years ago. But the fads of this 

 nature, which I got from our ingenicJus and learned eledlrician 

 M. JEpiNus *, whilft Preceptor to his Imperial Highnefs the 

 Great Duke, are much more circumftantial and interefl:ing. 

 See his letter at the end. 



However, I do not mean to affert, that the total of the eledric 

 fluid contained in the atmofphere is greater in winter than 

 fummer, during the violent commotions it occafions here, 

 which are fometimes of a very alarming and dangerous nature. 

 I only fay, that it appears to be more equally diffufed through 

 the whole volume of the atmofphere, from not being coUedled 

 into clouds, as in fummer, and that the air is in a flate more 

 difpofed to part with it. In faft, no clouds are to be feen du- 

 ring fevere froft, nor indeed can water exifl; in that form, but 

 is divided into infinitely fmall particles, frozen into fliining 

 fpicula, which play and fparkle in the beams of our bright 

 though feeble fun, in a very beautiful manner. This appear- 

 ance of fomething like brilliant points floating in our atmo- 

 fphere, 



* As it may operate to tlie encouragement of Science, permit me to inform the So- 

 ciety, that when this refpeSable Philofopher (fo well known in Europe by his profound 

 and ingenious writings on Eleftricity and Magnetifm) had fini(hed the education of his 

 Imperial Highnefs the Grand Duke of Ruflia, he was advanced to the rank of »61ual 

 Counfellor of State, with a penfisn to fupport his new dignity, and was decorated -with 

 the red ribbon of St Anne, an order only beftowed on men of high military or civil 

 rank. This anecdote fliows how well the prefent Sovereign underftands rewarding me- 

 rit, when it falls under her immediate cognifaQce. 



