Foregoing Narrative. 267 
The foregoing narrative and ingenious 
theory may tend to explain, in some degree, 
the extraordinary event at Swinton. In both 
instances, the thunder and lightning, which 
were observed previously to the great explo- 
sions, were distant. In the Scotch storm, 
though distant lightning had been visible, ne 
- flash was perceived at the place where Lauder, 
the driver of the cart, was killed ; nor does it 
appear that any flash attended the destructive 
explosion at Swinton. The great darkness at 
the latter place renders it probable that, ac- 
cording to the hypothesis, there were distinct 
clouds at different altitudes. It can scarcely 
be doubted that the electrical current passed 
from the earth to Lauder’s cart ; nor can we 
imagine that such a mass of brick and stone 
work, asformed the cistern at Mr. Chadwick’s, 
could have been lifted and moved from its 
foundation either by a main or lateral stroke. 
A proof, indeed, that it was not, is, that the 
wall was left upright with its coping entire. 
Mr. Chadwick, who was standing in the 
house, was turned half round, which motion 
was probably caused by the action of the 
electric fluid on his feet. In the same storm, 
by which Lauder was destroyed, shocks were 
felt in several places in the vicinity, but were 
not immediately preceded by lightning. A 
L12 
