Curiosities of Science. 213 



DR. FRANKLIN'S ELECTRICAL KITE. 



Several philosophers had observed that lightning and elec- 

 tricity possessed many common properties ; and the light which 

 accompanied the explosion, the crackling noise made by the 

 flame, and other phenomena, made them suspect that lightning 

 might be electricity in a highly powerful state. But this con- 

 nection was merely the subject of conjecture until, in the year 

 1750, Dr. Franklin suggested an experiment to determine the 

 question. While he was waiting for the building of a spire at 

 Philadelphia, to which he intended to attach his wire, the ex- 

 periment was successfully made at Marly-la- Ville, in France, in 

 the year 1 752 ; when lightning was actually drawn from the 

 clouds by means of a pointed wire, and it was proved to be 

 really the electric fluid. 



Almost every early electrical discovery of importance was made by 

 Fellows of the Royal Society, and is to be found recoi'ded in the Philo- 

 sophical Transactions. In the forty-fifth volume occurs the first men- 

 tion of Dr. Franklin's name, and his theory of positive and negative 

 electricity. In 1756 he was elected into the Society, " without any fee 

 or other payment." His previous communications to the Transactions, 

 particularly the account of his electrical kite, had excited great intei-est. 

 ( Welds History of the Royal Society.} It is thus described by him in a 

 letter dated Philadelphia, October 1, 1752 : 



" As frequent mention is made in the public papers from Europe of 

 the success of the Marly-la- Ville experiment for drawing the electric fire 

 from clouds by means of pointed rods of iron erected on high buildings, 

 &c., it may be agreeable to the curious to be informed that the same 

 experiment has succeeded in Philadelphia, though made in a different 

 and more easy manner, which any one may try, as follows : 



Make a small cross of two light strips of cedar, the arms so long as 

 to reach to the four corners of a large thin silk handkerchief when ex- 

 tended. Tie the corners of the handkerchief to the extremities of the 

 cross ; so you have the body of a kite, which, being properly accommo- 

 dated with a tail, loop, and string, will rise in the air like a kite made 

 of paper ; but this, being of silk, is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a 

 thunder-gust without tearing. To the top of the upright stick of the 

 cross is to be fixed a very sharp-pointed wire, rising a foot or more 

 above the wood. To the end of the twine, next the band, is to be tied 

 a silk ribbon ; and where the twine and silk join a key may be fastened. 



The kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming 

 on, and the person who holds the string must stand within a door or 

 window, or under some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not be wet ; 

 and care must be taken that the twine does not touch the frame of the 

 door or window. As soon as any of the thunder-clouds come over the 

 kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric fire from them ; and the 

 kite, with all the twine, will be electrified ; and the loose filaments of 

 the twine will stand out every way, and be attracted by an approaching 

 finger. 



When the rain has wet the kite and twine, so that it can conduct 

 the electric fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the 

 key on the approach of your knuckle. At this key the phial may be 

 charged ; and from electric fire thus obtained spirits may be kindled, 



