The Writings of Benjamin Franklin. 155 



Marly, on May 10, 1752, and in the same year by others in 

 England and France, as well as by Franklin himself. 



A passage referring to the action of lightning conductors 

 may be quoted. It is contained in a letter dated June 29, 

 1755 {Experiments, p. 161, Works, Vol. I., p. 309.) 



" As to the effect of points in drawing the electric matter 

 " from the clouds and thereby securing buildings, etc., 

 " which, you say, he seems to doubt, I must own I think he 

 "only speaks modestly and judiciously. I find I have 

 " been but partly understood in that matter. I have 

 " mentioned it in several of my letters, and except once, 

 " always in the alternative, viz., that pointed rods erected 

 " on buildings, and communicating with the moist earth, 

 "would either prevent a stroke, or, if not prevented, 

 " would conduct it, so that the building should suffer no 

 " damage. Yet whenever my opinion is examined in Europe, 

 " nothing is considered but the probability of those rods 

 "preventing a stroke or explosion, which is only a part of 

 " the use I proposed for them ; and the other part, their 

 " conducting a stroke, which they may happen not to 

 " prevent seems to be totally forgotten, though of equal 

 "importance or advantage." 



"Experiments" page 50, " Works" Vol. I., p. 213). 



" Dangerous, therefore, is it to take shelter under a 

 " tree, during a thunder-gust. It has been fatal to many^ 

 " both men and beasts. 



" It is safer to be in the open field for another reason. 

 " When the cloaths are wet, if a flash in its way to the 

 " ground should strike your head, it may run in the water 

 " over the surface of your body ; whereas if your cloaths 

 " were dry, it would go through the body. 



" Hence a wet rat cannot be killed by the exploding 

 " electrical bottle, when a dry rat may." 



Footnote: "This was tried with a bottle, containing about a quart. 

 It is since " thought that one of the large glass jars, mentioned in these 

 papers, might "have killed him though wet." 



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