and io dissipate Storms. 217 
middle of the clouds, of rockets directed towards the place 
-where the clouds are thickest. 
2. Establish energetic conductors between the clouds and 
the earth, either by fires lighted from distance to distance, 
and kept burning by supplies of dry substances, or by the 
disengagement of bumid vapours, or the combustion of re- 
sinous matters. 
3. Draw off the electric fluid, which is in superabundance 
in the clouds, by a multiplicity of thunder-rods. As the 
storms in our country are accompanied by the east and 
south-east winds, it would be proper to establish in every 
canton, on those sides of their horizon, these conductors, 
which might be placed both on elevated places and on high 
trees: this consideration would lead to the multiplication of 
large trees in the above quarters, and immense advantages 
would consequently result in respect of the increase of fire- 
wood, 
Such is the succinct analysis of this memoir, which 
evinces that its author is a philosopher familiarised in the 
- explanation of the grand phenomena of nature: it belongs 
to learned men and enlightened ministers to decide how far 
the means proposed are practicable in the country, and com- 
patible with the security of the inhabitants and the princi- 
ples of a good government. To the hopes held out in this 
memoir, that one of our greatest earthly plagues may be suc- 
cessfully averted, the unhappy reflection is added of the 
dreadful accidents that may arise from the inconsiderate 
employment of most of the preservatives recommended by 
M. Denize. However tliat may be, it seemed to ine to be 
interesting to Jay the above analysis before my readers pre- 
vious to giving the details of the process employed in the ci- 
devant Maconnais for preventing storms. 
It was at Vaurenard this process originated, 35 years ago, 
The marquis de Chevriers, a naval officer, retired upon his, 
estate at Vaurenard, having often witnessed the ravages oc- 
casioned by hail, and recollecting to bave seen the explosion 
of guns resorted to at sea in order to disperse stormy clouds, 
resolyed to combat this plague by an analogous method. 
Yor 
