45'2 PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1747-8. 



it; as this time would show the velocity of electricity, through a space equal to 

 the length of the wire between the coated phial and this observer. 



When all parts of the apparatus were properly disposed, several explosions of 

 the charged phial were made; and it was invariably seen, that the observer, hold- 

 ing in each hand one of the extremities of these wires, was convulsed in both his 

 arms in the instant of making the explosions. Instead of one, 4 men were then 

 placed holding each other by the hand near the machine, the first of which held 

 in his right hand one extremity of the wire, and the last man the other in his 

 left. They were all seen convulsed in the instant of the explosion. Every one 

 who felt it, complained of the severity of the shock. It was then tried whether, 

 as the ground was wet, if the explosion was made with the observer holding the 

 extremity of each wire standing on the ground near the window of the house, 

 any difference would arise in the success of the experiment: no difference was 

 found, the observer being shocked in the instant of the explosion as before in 

 both his arms, and across his breast. On these considerations they were fully 

 satisfied, that through the whole length of this wire, being 12276 feet, the velo- 

 city of electricity was instantaneous. 



Mr. W. took notice, in a sequel to the experiments relating to electricity,* of 

 an observation of professor Bose of Wittemberg, viz. " that if the electrifying 

 machine is placed on originally-electrics, the man who rubs the globe with his 

 hands, even under these apparently favourable circumstances, gives no sign of being 

 electrised when touched by an unexcited non-electric. But if another person, 

 standing on the floor, does but touch the globe in motion with the end of one of 

 his fingers, or any other non-electric, the person rubbing is instantly electrised, and 

 that very strongly." This experiment, almost a year since. Dr. Bevis carried fur- 

 ther, by placing whatever non-electric touched the globe as a conductor, whether 

 it were a man or a gun-barrel, on originally-electrics. If then, either the man 

 who rubbed the globe, or he who only held his finger near its equator, were 

 touched by any person standing on the floor, a snapping from either of them was 

 perceptible on that touch. 



Mr. W. offers a solution of this phenomenon, and then gives another, to 

 the same purport, from Mr. Franklin of America. 



At this time says Mr. W. I am the more particular concerning the solution of 

 this singular appearance, as Mr. Collinson, a worthy member of this society, has 

 received a paper concerning electricity from an ingenious gentleman, Mr. Franklin, 

 a friend of his in Pennsylvania. This paper, dated June 1, 1747, I very lately 

 perused, by favour of our most worthy president. Among other curious re- 

 marks, there is a like solution of this fact; for though this gentleman's experi- 

 ments was made with a tube instead of a globe, the difference is no-ways material. 

 • Printed for C. Davis, London, 1746. 8vo. p. 32.— Orig. 



