122 ELECTRICITY. 



t 



preface to them, and published them in London. They subsequently went 

 through five editions. 



After the publication of these remarkable letters, and when public opinion 

 in all parts of Europe had been expressed upon them, an abridgment or ab- 

 stract of them was read to the society on the 6th of June, 1751. It is a re- 

 markable circumstance that, in this notice, no mention whatever occurs of 

 Franklin's project of drawing lightning from the clouds. Possibly this was the 

 part which had before excited laughter, and was omitted to avoid ridicule. 



Franklin was under an impression that a pointed rod could not be ex- 

 pected to attract the lightning, unless it were placed at a very great height in 

 the atmosphere ; and to render the result of his projected experiment more cer- 

 tain, he determined to wait for the completion of a spire then being erected in 

 Philadelphia: Meanwhile, however, a different and more promising expedi- 

 ent occurred to him ; which was, to send up the pointed wire upon a kite, by 

 the string of which the lightning might be brought within his reach. He soon 

 succeeded in realizing this, the most bold and grand conception which ever 

 presented itself to the imagination of an experimental philosopher. 



He prepared his kite by making a small cross of two light strips of cedar, 

 the arms of sufficient length to extend to the four corners of a large silk hand- 

 kerchief stretched upon them. To the extremities of the arms of the cross he 

 tied the corners of the handkerchief. This being properly supplied with a 

 tail, loop, and string, could be raised in the air like a common paper kite, and. 

 being made of silk, was more capable of bearing rain and wind. To the up- 

 right arm of the cross was attached an iron point, the lower end of which was 

 in contact with the string by which the kite was raised, which was a hempen 

 cord. At the lower extremity of this cord, near the observer, a ke\ was fast- 

 ened ; and, in order to intercept the electricity in its descent, and prevent it 

 from reaching the person who held the kite, a silk riband was tied to the ring 

 of the key, and continued to the hand by which the kite was held. 



Furnished with this apparatus, on the approach of a storm, he went out upon 

 the commons near Philadelphia, accompanied by his son, to whom alone he 

 communicated his intentions, well knowing the ridicule which would have at- 

 tended the report of such an attempt, should it prove to be unsuccessful. Hav- 

 ing raised the kite, he placed himself under a shed, that the riband by which 

 it was held might be kept dry, as it would become a conductor of electricity 

 when wetted by rain, and so fail to afford that protection for which it was pro- 

 vided. A cloud, apparently charged with thunder, soon passed directly over 

 the kite. He observed the hempen cord, but no bristling of its fibres was ap- 

 parent, such as was wont to take place when it was electrified. He presented 

 his knuckle to the key, but not the smallest spark was perceptible. The agony 

 of his expectation and suspense can be adequately felt by those only who have 

 entered into the spirit of such experimental researches. After the lapse of 

 some time, he saw that the fibres of the cord near the key bristled, and stood on 

 end. He presented his knuckle to the key, and received a strong bright spark. 

 It was lightning. The discovery was complete, and Franklin felt that he was 

 immortal. 



A shower now fell, and, wetting the cord of the kite, improved its conducting 

 power. Sparks in rapid succession were drawn from the key, a Leyden jar 

 was charged by it, and a shock given ; and, in fine, all the experiments which 

 were wont to be made by electricity were reproduced identical in all their con- 

 comitant circumstances. 



This experiment was performed in the month of June, 1752. It will be re- 

 membered that Franklin's letters to Mr. Collinson had been previously pub- 

 lished, translated, and widely circulated in different languages throughout Eu- 



