VOL. LXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 309 



melted spots, besides a single one at the upper edge of it. But, in quitting it, 

 the electricity melted only one spot at the lower edge,* which, as Mr. Bell (a 

 gentleman who was with us) observed, was a criterion by which to judge of the 

 direction of the fluid. To the left of this door, at the distance of 1 1 feet 4 

 inches, came down a leaden pipe, which terminated at the ceiling, and there 

 just entered a pitched trunk of fir, which indeed was the case with every leaden 

 pipe about the building. Here the lightning exploded, rending the trunk, and 

 doing other slight damage in and about a window, to which it was attracted by 

 an interrupted and irregular communication of metal. Had this pipe of lead been 

 continued to the bottom of the building, and thence conveyed into the earth, in 

 the manner directed by Dr. Franklin, Mr. H. had no doubt but the whole con- 

 tents of the explosions would have passed this way, have been conducted with 

 perfect safety to the building, &c. and that no other part of it would have been 

 at all affected. As the effects of this stroke so exactly correspond with those 

 many times before observed by Dr. Franklin, Mr. H. thinks we shall hardly ever 

 meet with a greater proof of the utility of his metallic conductors ; and cannot 

 help expressing a sincere wish, that builders, and persons engaged in the erec- 

 tion of public edifices, &c. might be prevailed with to make a regular communi- 

 cation of metal, from the top of such buildings to a considerable depth into the 

 earth, and of such a diameter and kind, as_may be sufficient to secure both the 

 buildings, and the lives of those who may happen to be in them. The poor man 

 destroyed by this accident, was sitting at the time on a short ladder, which lay 

 horizontally on the pavement, with his back against the door. The lightning 

 flew from the middle bolt, and struck him on and under his left ear, entered his 

 neck, making a wound half an inch long, raised in a bur and burnt, passed down 

 his back, which it turned black as ink, down his left arm, melting the stud in 

 his shirt sleeve; the stone in which, as well as the silver, seems to be a little 

 affected. Hence it flew into his body, which it burnt in a hard spot, resembling 

 scorched leather, passing through it into his right leg, and breaking out a little 

 above the ancle ; making a large wound, and another bur, burnt as before, with 

 two others smaller a little below it, and some still smaller in his feet. His 

 clothes and hair were much burnt, but his stock, shoe, and knee-buckles, the 

 metal buttons on his coat and waistcoat, a shilling, which he had in the left 

 pocket of his breeches, and the metal clasps of a Common Prayer-Book, in his 

 coat pocket, were all uninjured.-|- His death was truly instantaneous. 



* Quere, is not this effect somewhat analogous to Mr. Lullin's electrical experiment witli a card ? 



-Orig. 



•t The corpse, after lying 2 or 3 days on a table, seemed not more disposed to putrefaction, than 

 bodies at that time generally are, which die a natural death. — Orig. 



