VOL. XLVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ^QS 



snufF to the end of a tin cylinder, which hung to the wire in such experiments, 

 this dust was strongly attracted, as soon as the wire showed any signs of electri- 

 city. But when the electrical matter came to be accumulated in this cylinder, 

 the dust was powerfully repelled as by a strong blast, insomuch that the quan- 

 tity of molecules repelled was much greater than of those attracted at the same 

 time. 



And with respect k) this successive attraction and repulsion, the Abbe men- 

 tions an experiment he was informed of, without knowing that the author of it 

 was Mr. Franklin. The dishes of a pair of scales were suspended to the balance 

 by silken cords ; the two dishes were electrized, and a very sharp needle was 

 presented to one of them. The scales immediately lost their equilibrium ; and 

 that dish under which the needle was held was attracted. The direct contrary 

 happened, when an obtuse or round body, such as a leaden bullet, was put on 

 the point of the needle, for then the dish was repelled. If this experiment be 

 true, it strongly imitates what happens in the clouds, when they are in equilibrio 

 in the atmosphere : and it gives room to conjecture, that it would be much less 

 dangerous to tenninate the tops of steeples with obtuse bodies, than with pointed 

 spires, on which the thunder falls, sooner or later, when they are very high. 



XCII. On Extracting Electricity from the Clouds. Translated from the French, 

 by the Abbe Nollet, F.R.S. Dated Paris, June 6, 1752. n. s. p. 553. 



The Abbe, after having taken notice of the discovery of M. d'Alibard in 

 France, in regard to extracting electricity from the clouds during a thunder- 

 storm, in consequence of Mr. Franklin's hypothesis, observes that he is piore 

 interested than any one to come at the facts, which prove a true analogy between 

 lightning and electricity ; since these experiments establish incontestably a truth, 

 which he had conceived, and which he ventured to lay before the public more 

 than 4 years ago. Examine the 4th volume of his Leqons de Physique, p. 314, 

 and you will find what follows : ' If any one should take upon him to prove, 

 from a well connected comparison of phenomena, that thunder is in the hands 

 of nature, what electricity is in ours ; that the wonders which we now exhibit at 

 our pleasure, are little imitations of those great effects which frighten us ; and 

 that the whole depends on the same mechanism ; if it is to be demonstrated that 

 a cloud, prepared by the action of the winds, by heat, by a mixture of exhala- 

 tions, &c. is opposite to a terrestrial object ; that this is the electrized body, and 

 at a certain proximity from that which is not ; I avow that this ideji, if it was 

 well supported, would give me a great deal of pleasure ; and in support of it how 

 many specious reasons present themselves to a man who is well acquainted with 

 electricity ! The universality of the electric matter, the readiness of its action, 

 its inflammability, and its activity in giving fire to other bodies ; its poverty in 



