114* Experimental Philosophy. [Lecture 9. 



upon the vegetable creation, as from some ex- 

 periments we are led to conclude that plants 

 which have been electrified vegetate earlier and 

 more vigorously than those which have not been 

 subjected to its influence. 



Electricity is, indeed, a most powerful agent 

 in nature, and we are probably not yet ac- 

 quainted with all its effects. It is, however, in 

 the atmospherical phsenomena that these effects 

 are most apparent and most tremendous. It is 

 to Dr. Franklin that we are indebted for the 

 interesting discovery, that the cause which pro- 

 duces THUNDER and LIGHTNING is precisely the 

 same with that which produces the ordinary 

 phsenomena of electricity. 



This eminent philosopher was led to the dis- 

 covery by comparing the effects of lightning 

 with those produced by an electrical machine, 

 and by reflecting that if two gun-barrels when 

 electrified will strike at two inches with a loud 

 report, what must be the effect of ten thousand 

 acres of electrified cloud ? After much thought 

 upon the subject, he determined to try whether 

 it was not possible to bring the lightning down 

 from the heavens a thought at once daring 

 and sublime ! With this view he constructed a 

 kite, like those which are used by school boys, 

 but of a larger size and stronger materials. A 

 pointed wire was fixed upon the kite, in order 

 to attract the electric matter. The first favour- 

 able opportunity he was impatient to try his ex- 



