2$o On the Knowledge of the Ancients, 



the feats of idolatrous worfhip. Now, were a 

 foreft of fpears, with the points upwards, and 

 with the handles of dry wood, or, perhaps, fomc 

 of the Teribinthinate kind, which are bad con- 

 ductors, and placed upon an elevated fituation, 

 they might, if placed within ftriking diftance, 

 exhibit a luminous appearance, and in certain 

 feafons colleft eleftrical fire, fufficient to make a 

 great difcharge ; and, as I fuppofe, to deftroy any 

 perfon within the reach of their influence. This 

 is not altogether matter of conjedlure. Plutarch 

 fays, that balls of fire were feen to reft on the 

 points of the foldiers' fpears, and we know, that 

 in our own times, in the Mediterranean fea, it is 

 common for balls of fire to reft on the rigging 

 of the ftiips, which appearances were formerly 

 called by the names of Caftor and Pollux; and 

 in later times, the fires of St. Helmo, and arc 

 thought to foretel good weather. Was it from this 

 opinion, that St. Paul's fhip, mentioned in the 

 A£ls of the Apoftles, had the images of Caftor 

 and Pollux on its prow. Livy* fpeaks of a fpear, 

 in a houfe, that burned more than two hours, 

 yet without being confumed. Could this be 

 any thing but electrical ? 



It ftiould be obferved, that Numa did not 

 build a temple, but an altar, in the open air, to 



• Fregellis in domo L. Atrei hafta, quam filio militl 

 emerat, interdiu plus duas horas arfifle, ita ut nihil ejus 

 ambureret ignis, dicebatur. Liv. XLIII. 13. 



Jupiter 



