152 Dr. A. Schuster on 



On Some Remarkable Passages in the Writings of 

 Benjamin Franklin. By Arthur Schuster, F.R.S. 



{Received March iftk, 1895.) 



I have recently had occasion to peruse more 

 carefully than I had previously done the works 

 of Benjamin Franklin. His life, partly described by 

 himself, as well as the contents of his letters and papers, 

 offer us matter which is of great interest. Perhaps 

 the selection of a few passages may best show the 

 author's width of knowledge and keenness of intellect, 

 but only a complete study of his works can give an 

 idea of the great number of subjects which he discussed 

 and helped to elucidate. Franklin's scientific work seems 

 to have originated in the trial of some electrical apparatus 

 which Mr. Peter Collinson, F.R.S., sent from England, in 

 1845, as a present to the public library founded by Franklin 

 in Philadelphia. In a letter, dated March 28th, 1747, he 

 gave an account of some experiments in which, for the first 

 time, he describes the action of points in discharging 

 electricity ; then follows this passage :* 



" Works" page 5. 



" The repellency between the cork ball and the shot is 

 "likewise destroy'd. 1. By sifting fine sand on to it ; this 



*The quotations refer to the following publications : 



(1) "Experiments and observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia, 

 in America," by Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. and F.R.S. (London : Printed for 

 David Henry, mdcclxix). 



(2) " The Complete Works of the late Dr. Franklin," in 3 volumes 

 (second edition). London : Printed for Longmans, etc. 



They will for shortness' sake be referred to as " Experiments " and 

 "Works." 



