VOL. XLVI.] - PHILOSOPHICAL TJRANSACTIONS. 653 



part of the evening, and sundry very large comazants, as they are called, over- 

 head, some of which settled on the spindles at the top-mast heads, which burnt 

 like very large torches ; and at Q p. m. a single loud clap of thunder with light- 

 ning struck the ship in a violent manner, which disabled Capt. W. and great part 

 of the ship's company in the eyes and limbs ; it struck the mainmast about -*- up 

 almost half through, and stove the upper deck, one carling, and quick-work ; 

 part of which lightning got in between decks, started off the bulk-head, drove 

 down all the cabins on one side of the steerage, stove the lower deck, and one of 

 the lower deck main lodging-knees. Another part of it went through the star- 

 board side, without any hurt to the ceiling, or inside plank ; and started off from 

 the timbers 4 outside planks, being the wale upwards ; one of which planks, being 

 the second from the wale, was broke quite asunder, and let in: in about 10 or 15 

 minutes time Q feet water in the ship. 



It also took the virtue of the loadstone from all the compasses, being 4 in 

 number, all in good order before, one in a brass and 3 in wooden boxes. The 

 hanging compass in the cabin was not quite so much disabled as the rest ; they 

 were at first very near reversed, the north to the south ; and after a little while 

 rambled about so as to be of no service. The storm lasted 5 days ; they lost the 

 mainmast and mizenmast, and almost all the sails ; and arrived at Cowes the 

 21st of January in a very shattered condition. 



OJ' the Mariners' Compass, thai luas struck with Lightning, as related in the 

 foregoing Paper ; with some Jurlher Particulars relating to that Occident. 

 By Gowin Knight, M.B., F.R.S. N° 492, p. 113. 



On examining the compass struck with lightning, it appeared that the outward 

 case was joined together with pieces of iron wire, [6 of which were found in the 

 sides of the box, and 10 in the bottom. Mr. K. applied a small needle to each 

 of these wires, and immediately perceived that the lightning had made them 

 strongly magne^ical ; particularly those that joined the sides. All the heads of 

 the wires on one side of the box attracted the north point of the needle, and re- 

 pelled the south ; while all the heads on the other side attracted the south and 

 repelled the north; the wires at the bottom attracted the south and repelled the 

 north; but it is not certain whether this polarity was anywise owing to the light- 

 ning ; since it might be acquired by their continuing long in an erect position. 



On examining the card, he found the needle was vigorous enough in perform- 

 ing its vibrations, but that its polarity was inverted ; the north point turning con- 

 stantly to the south. He then tried to take out the card, to examine the state 

 and structure of the needle : but the junctures were every where well secured 

 with putty, become so hard, that he was obliged to use some violence, and at 

 last broke the glass. The needle consisted of 2 pieces of steel wire, each bent 



