VOL. XLV.] ' PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 447 



the gentlemen to conclude, as from many experiments it was manifest, that when 

 the intervening substances conduct electricity equally well, the circuit was per- 

 formed in the shortest way possible, that when the observers holding their iron 

 rods in the river at d and e were both shocked, the electricity was not conveyed 

 by the water of the river, being 2 miles in length, but by land, where the dis- 

 tance was only 1 mile; in which space that power must necessarily pass over the 

 New River twice, through several gravel-pits, and a large stubble-field. So that 

 admitting the electricity did not follow the track of the river, the circuit from d 

 to E was at least 1 miles, viz. somewhat more than 1 mile of wire, which con- 

 ducted the electricity from the house to the stations, and another mile of ground, 

 the shortest distance between those stations. The same inference was now drawn 

 with regard to the experiments at a, b, and c, in the New River before recited, 

 viz. that as in all of them the distance between the observers was much greater 

 by water than by land, the electricity passed by land from one observer to the 

 other, and not by water. 



From the shocks which the gentlemen received in their bodies, when the elec- 

 trical power was conducted on dry sticks, they were of opinion, that from differ- 

 ence of distance simply considered, as far as they had yet experienced, the force 

 was very little if at all impaired. When they stood on originally-electrics, and 

 touched the water or ground with an iron rod, the electrical commotion was 

 always felt in their arms and wrists: when they stood on the ground, and touched 

 either the water or ground with their iron rods, they felt the shock in their 

 elbows, wrists, and ancles; when they stood on the ground without the rod, 

 the shock was always in the elbow and wrist of that hand which held the con- 

 ducting wire, and in both ancles. The observers here being sensible of the elec- 

 trical commotion in different parts of their bodies, was owing in the first instance 

 to the whole of it passing, because the observer stood on wax, through their 

 arms, and through the iron rod; in the second, when they stood on the ground, 

 the electricity passed both through their legs, and through the iron; in the 

 third, when they stood on the ground without either wax or rod, the elec- 

 tricity directed its way through one arm, and through both legs to complete the 

 circuit. 



The gentlemen were desirous of closing the present inquiry, by examining not 

 only whether the electrical commotions were perceptible at double the distance 

 of the last experiments in ground perfectly dry. and where no water was near; 

 but also, if possible, to distinguish the respective velocities of electricity and 

 sound. To execute this, required their whole sagacity and address; for they had 

 met with very great difficulties in the last day's operations, where the wire was 

 conducted but little more than a mile; all which could not but be greatly aug- 

 mented by doubling that distance ; because it was necessary, that the house, in 



