114 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNOJ757. 



The shell of the spire as far down as 35 feet from the top, was no more than 7 

 inches thick, and the courses about the same height : so that scarcely any one 

 stone in the spire could weigh more than 30 or 40 pounds ; but they were joined 

 together at the ends with mortoise and tenon in a curious manner. Above 20 

 feet of the upper part was entirely thrown down, and dispersed in all directions ; 

 and some pieces were found at the distance of 200 yards. A great many stones 

 fell on the roof of the church, breaking the pews, and whatever they fell upon. 

 Six feet still lower the spire was separated ; the western half being thrown down ; 

 the eastern half was left standing, but disjointed, and in so critical a posture, 

 that it seemed ready to fall every moment : so that this was ordered to l)e taken 

 down immediately ; and likewise to 6 feet below, the work being found re- 

 markably shattered. The whole of the spire he found much cracked and da- 

 maged, but the remainder of the 7 inch shell so greatly, that there seemed 

 scarcely a whole joint. 



The pediments over every face of the lantern were damaged more or less ; but 

 the whole ashlering of that to the n. w. was torn off from the inner wall, to 

 which it was connected. Several of the pediments were damaged, and even 

 stones struck out, where the little pinacles above them were left standing. 



About the top of the lantern is a bell for the clock to strike on : it is hung on 

 a cross-bar, with gudgeons at each end ; the whole being suspended to a beam 

 laid across the tower. The cross-bar was so bent, that the clock-hammer would 

 not touch the bell by above 2 inches. This could not be done by the falling of 

 stones, because the beam would defend the bell from receiving any stroke in the 

 direction to which the cross-bar was bent. As to the wire that drew the ham- 

 mer, not one bit of it could be found. 



The bells, 4 in number, for ringing, hung in the square part of the tower 

 below the lantern, 2 above and 2 below : the wheels of every one were broken to 

 pieces, and one of the iron straps by which they were fastened to the yoke, un- 

 hooked. Whether these accidents were occasioned by the lightning or the 

 falling stones, he leaves undetermined. In the floor under the bells was placed 

 the clock, cased up with slight boards. The verge that carries the pallets was 

 bent downwards, as if a 10 pound weight had fallen 10 feet high right upon it. 

 The crutch that lays hold of the pendulum, looked as if it had been cut off by a 

 blunt tool, and heated by the blow, till it was coloured blue at the place where 

 it was cut. It turned at a right angle, and might be about -yV o^ ^'^ inch broad 

 by ^Sg. thick. As to the pendulum which hung pretty near the wall, the upper 

 part of the rod was struck with such violence against the wall, that a sharp im- 

 pression of it was made in the plaster : and near the upper part of the impression 

 appeared a circular shady ring, of a blackish colour, something like as if a pistol 

 had been discharged of powder, and the muzzle held near the wall. In this 



