VOL. L.I PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 113 



cipal damage : for common salt dissolved in water, he found on experiment on 

 some fresh vegetables, when sprinkled 2 or 3 times, on them, has the very 

 same effect, except that it does not turn them quite so black ; but particles of a 

 sulphureous or * other quality, may have been mixed with it. That this salt, 

 water had been brought from the sea,-}- every body will allow; but the manner 

 how,:}: is not so easy to conceive. 



XXF. The Effects of Lightning on the Steeple and Church of Lestwithiel, 

 Cornwall. By Mr. John Smeaton, F. R. S. p. IQS. 



January 25, 1757, about 5 o'clock in the evening, returning home from the 

 Edystone works near Plymouth, Mr. S. observed 4 flashes of lightning, within 

 the space of 6 or 7 minutes, towards the west ; but heard no noise of thunder, 

 distance about 30 miles. A few days after, he was informed, that the same 

 evening the lightning had shattered the church of Lestwithiel in a very sur- 

 prising manner. At the time before-mentioned, the inhabitants were alarmed 

 by a violent flash of lightning, accompanied with thunder so sudden, loud, and 

 dreadful, that every one thought the house he was in was falling upon him ; 

 almost every one being within doors, on account of a violent shower of rain, 

 which preceded the lightning : so that nobody knew any thing of the mischief 

 done to the church, till it was observed accidently after the shower. 



The steeple is carried up, plain and square, to about 49 feet, with a kind of 

 slate-stone rough-cast on the outside ; on which is formed a very elegant octagon 

 Gothic lantern, about 9 feet high, and on it a stone spire about 52 feet high, 

 with a spindle and vane rising about 3 feet above the stone : so that the whole 

 together was about 113 feet. Each face of the lantern finishes above with a 

 sort of Gothic pediment, with a little pinacle on each, separated from the body 

 of the spire. 



The vane was much bruised, which might be occasioned by the fall ; but the 

 socket was rent open, as if it had been burst by gunpowder ; and in such a 

 manner as could not well be occasioned by the fall. Under the spindle that car- 

 ried the vane, was a bar of much the same size and length, that passed through 

 the centre of several of the uppermost stones successively, to unite them the 

 more firmly together, and was run in with lead : all which surrounding stones 

 were broken off, except one, which, together with the bar, fell down within the 

 tower. 



* In an adjoining bleach -yard, a piece of cloth, which had been left out all night, was turned 

 yellow ; and was not without some difficulty washed out again. Some also, which was spread out 

 the next day, contracted the same colour. — Orig. 



j- The wind was westerly, and consequently would sweep the Irish sea. — Orig. 



X No rain, or however vary little, during the hurricane. — Orig. 

 VOL. XI. Q 



