Rcmafhfnh Natural Phrfphonn, "jo^ 



town ; lias 'been tlionglit by feveral gentlemen here, worth 



miinicatln^ to the American Academy. I was led by the 



advice of my ingenious friend, Mr, Benjamin Weft, to addrefs 



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it to you. 



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r 



Some time lafl Odlober, Mr. Jenkins was at his friend's houre, 

 at Scba^htlcooL on the Hofack ; and going with him into his 

 ftore, in the evening, they difcovered on the floor, the appear- 



ce of fcattered firej which at firfl was fuppofed to be rotten 



I 



wood ; but on (looping down, it had a more luminous appear- 

 ance.'" This induced Mr. Jenkins to put his. finger on a fmall 

 piece, which he drew along on the floor, a lucid' train fucceed- 

 ing, and retaining its brightnefs. He t1icn rubbed it in a cir- 

 cvilar manner, to abou.t the fize of a crown, and left it to call 

 fome perfons from the houfe adjoining, to fee this extraordina- 



Tj appearance. 



On returning with the company, he undertook to fhew them 

 the efFed of rubbing anotlier piece, about the fize of a parfnip 

 "feed ; and proceeding as before, till it was about double the fur- 

 face mentioned (the brightnefs as in the firft experiment) it fud. 

 ■jLenly fiaihed into a blaze, fet the floor on fire, and had the effea 



of the mofl powerful cauftic on his finger; which, through ex- 

 treme pain, being rubbed againfl his thumb, affeded it equal- 

 ly, both being excefTively burned. In this difagreeable fitua- 

 tion, he attempted tb extinguifli the fire, by plunging lois hand 

 into a bafon of water repeatedly, holding it under once fifteen 

 or twenty minutes '; during the mofl of which time, the fi 



p 



and 



