394 Miscellanies. 
hands; he would then rise and extend both hands high in air, and then” 
stoop down again as before; this action he repeated several times ; at 
length he called to those in the house, saying, that “‘ the lightning is so 
thick upon the ground that you can pick up corn-baskets full of it.” 
_ His mind was evidently for a short time injured by the shock. Two 
of the other men, who had just sat down as the shock came, were found 
leaning back against the wall, stunned, as if asleep. ‘The fourth re- 
ceived little or no injury. 
The persons in the house, (Mr. C. believes about a dete andes of 
whom had naked feet—said that at the moment of the shock their feet 
felt as though some person had tossed a chip of wood on them, while 
those with shoes on did not perceive this sensation. 
In addition to this, an empty boat lay a short distance from the rock 
struck, and when the shower was over, the men who came there in the 
boo attempted to return in it, but on entering it immediately filled and 
. On examination it was found that every nail in the boat had 
haa and that the leaks were thus caused. 
The points which I conceive of any importance in this transaction, 
are, Ist. The good evidence furnished, or the corroboration of a long 
known fact, that oil is a powerful non-electric, as the fluid passed over 
or under the whole length of the plank covered with the refuse of 
shad. 2d. The sensation given to all the bare feet of persons five rods 
distant, without affecting the hands and face, was uncommon. Is it not 
probable that the skin of the feet, being usually covered, was more deli- 
cate and therefore more sensible to the shock? The floor of the house 
where these persons were, is several feet higher than any point touched 
by the lightning. 3d. Did the electric fluid reach the fishes in the 
river? or were they killed by the mere shock in the air acting up- 
on the water? 4th. Is it possible the nails in the boat could have 
been started out by the shock, and if so, in what manner? Was the 
concussion of fir so great upon the plank of the boat, that the nails 
were thus drawn by the plank ? or was this result produced by the 
electric fluid acting upon the nails? 5th. Is it possible to explain or 
show cause why the lightning should leave so smooth a surface through 
the rock which it severed, especially when acting not.with nor directly 
at right angles to the natural cleavage or laminw of the rock and not 
separating any laminz ? 
Some person a short distance further up the river, who saw the col- 
umn of ‘electric fluid fluid descend on this occasion, remarked, ons “ it ap- 
peared to be about the size of a common bar-post. 
iL betes f silver or gold from lead. 
Prof. Sintiman—Sir : ing over a former number of your 
Journal, (Vol. xxxv, fife 2, Pet 1839,) I find on page 321 an 
