£14 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



After thk I went home for fome time, 

 refolving to come' abroad again when the 

 ftorm was more tolerable ; but it continu- 

 ed to rain all night, fo violently, that I 

 was obliged, with regret, to leave feveral 

 experiments to the chance of fome future 

 opportunity^ 



I beg leave to add a few remarks rela- 

 tive to this fubjedl. 



It feems plain that the glafs-tubes were 

 not of great nfe upon this occafion, and 

 that by being wet, they condudled the c 

 ledlrical fire nearly in the fame manner 

 as the iron rods. 



It is probable, that thunder- gulls iii 

 cold or boifterous weather are apter to 

 Itrike, becaufe the fire is more condenfed. 



In warm weather the lightning expands 

 itfelf more as it flies ; and, by expanfion, 

 lofes its vigour. 



Perhaps there is one fmiple and eafy* 

 way of prote(5ling mafts and fpires from 

 thunder, viz. to fix horizontally, upon 

 the higheft parts of them, a flat round 

 piece of wood, of a foot diameter, or 



more, 



