I90 LETTER VIII. 



feparated from about them, and whirls it K)und 

 and round, to a confiderable height in the Air, 

 where it fcatters more widely about, and then 

 falls gently down again to the Earth. I do not 

 pretend to account for this Phenomenon. 



7. We had, now and then, in the Wane of 

 the Moon, exceffive great Lightnings, that wxre 

 unattended either by Thunder or Rain, and one 

 efpecially, in the year of our Lord 171 8, when 

 I was fent for to vifit a fick Perfon, about twelve 

 a Clock, in a very dark Night. The Lightning 

 begun juft as I fet out from his Houfe, on my 

 return homewards, and was terrible indeed -, for 

 it fell as if it had been liquid, in mofl monftrous 

 Flafhes, feveral times in every minute. It illu- 

 minated the Air all around, and flione fo bright- 

 ly, that I could fee the Ships in Charles 'T^owji 

 Road, as difl:ind:ly as if it had been broad day, 

 though I was then two miles off from them ; and 

 I could alfo plainly perceive, the whole Southern 

 fide of St. Chrijlopker^ Ifland, though fome part 

 of it was many miles off. Nay, I was once not 

 a little furprized, as thinking my Horfe had been 

 ilruck dead under me; for he hanged his Ears, 

 llraddled widely w4th all his four Legs, and flood 

 flock ftill, motionlefs: Flowever, at laft he gave 

 a groan, moved flowly on, and carried me fafe 

 home : He feemed now and then to ftagger at a 

 large Flafli 5 but I encouraged him what I could, 



by 



