BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 47 



to him, as is well known, the idea of a method of preserving 

 buildings from lightning, which is extremely simple and cheap, 

 as well as effectual, consisting, as it does, in nothing more 

 than attaching to the building a pointed metallic rod, rising 

 higher than any part of it, and communicating at the lower 

 end with the ground. This rod the lightning is sure to seize 

 upon in preference to any part of the building; by which 

 means it is conducted to the earth, and prevented from doing 

 any injury. There was always a strong tendency in Franklin's 

 philosophy to these practical applications. The liglitning-rod 

 was probably the result of some of the amusing experiments 

 with which FrankUn was, at the commencement of his elec- 

 trical investigations, accustomed to employ his own leisure, 

 and afford pleasure to his friends. In one of his letters to 

 Mr. Collinson, dated so early as 1 748, we find him expressing 

 himself in the following strain, in reference to his electrical 

 experiments : — ' Chagrined a little that we have hitherto been 

 able to produce nothing in this way of use to mankind, and 

 the hot weather coming on, when electrical experiments are 

 not so agreeable, it is proposed to put an end to them for this 

 season somewhat humorously, in a party of pleasure on the 

 banks of Skuylkill. Spirits at the same time are to be fired by 

 a spark sent from side to side through the river, without any 

 other conductor than the water — an experiment which we 

 have some time since performed to the amazement of many. 

 A turkey is to be killed for dinner by the electrical shock, and 

 roasted by the electrical jack, before a fire kindled by the 

 electrified bottle ; when the healths of all the famous electricians 

 in England, Holland, France, and Germany are to be drunk 

 in electrified bumpers^ under the discharge of guns from the 

 etecirical baiicry,' 



