Chap, 6.] [ 345 3 



CHAP. VI. 



OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, METEORS, 

 WATER-SPOUTS, &c. 



fheory of Lighning.~T>efcription of a 'Thunder Storm. Obfcr--vat'ioxs 

 relative to the Eleflricity of the Atmofphere. 'Melting of Metals by 

 the Cold Fufeon a vulgar Error. Conductors of Lightning. -How 

 to be fafe in a thunder Storm. -Application of Eleftricity to other 

 atmofpherical Phenomena. Rain. ////.- S0<;v. Meteors. *Wa- 

 ter-fpouts, 



IT no longer remains .a doubt among philofophers, 

 that the caufe which produces the effects of thun- 

 der is the fame with that which produce's the ordinary 

 phenomena of electricity j the refemblance between 

 them is indeed ib great, that we cannot believe thun- 

 der itfelf to be any other than a grander fpecies of 

 electricity, naturally excited without the feeble efforts 

 of human art. This fluid, probably, is diffufed through 

 the whole atmofphere at all times, either in a fmallcr 

 or greater degree, and is occafionally perceptible to our 

 fenfes, according to the concurrence of natural circum- 

 Itances. 



The cloud which produces the thunder and light- 

 ning may be confidered as a great electrified body ; 

 but how has the cloud acquired its electric virtue ? is 

 the reasonable demand of an inquifitive mind : and 

 to fatisfy this inquiry it will be neceffary to refer to 

 what has been before obferved, that this power is pro- 

 duced in two modes, by friction, and by commu- 

 pication. Bodies electrified by friction communicate 



their 



