Lightning Conductors to Powder Magazines. 459 



». 

 laboratory as the true exponents of natural operations. When we re- 

 collect that there is not one single recorded case of a properly pro- 

 tected Powder Magazine having been struck, and that the only facts on 

 which our reasonings can be grounded are derived from cases of dis- 

 charge on common buildings, in which, on Dr. O'Shaughnessy's au- 

 thority we assert, that " all the circumstances differ so widely, that many 

 of the most important of the facts and arguments which bear on one, 

 are altogether inapplicable to the other ;" we cannot be considered un- 

 reasonable in urging that no change should be made in the existing 

 system till information more strictly applicable to the question at 

 issue can be furnished us ; meanwhile let the search for this be pro- 

 secuted with zeal and energy; let a list of the points specially to be 

 observed during thunder storms be printed, and widely circulated over 

 the length and breadth of the land ; let a system of concentration for 

 the information thus obtained be established by its being publicly 

 announced that some party will receive all reports connected with the 

 subject, and let government encourage the spirit of inquiry thus excited 

 by instituting some experimental inquiries, on the large scale, so that 

 results may be obtained commensurate with the acknowledged impor- 

 tance of the question ; but till all this is done, our parting recommenda- 

 tion to the authorities, is, to leave the existing system in operation, 

 till we have something more than minute experiments, and disputed 

 reasoning to advance in favor of another, 



Postscript. In his first report Dr. O'Shaughnessy makes several allu- 

 sions to the accident which happened to Government House, on the 

 30th of March 1838, and as the peculiarities of this case give it an addi- 

 tional degree of interest, it is of much importance that all information 

 published concerning it should be carefully authenticated. We have 

 been led to this remark by finding it impossible to reconcile some of the 

 statements made by Dr. O'Shaughnessy in his report with the informa- 

 tion relative to the accident now in our possession. We may be per- 

 mitted we trust to state " in limine," that in expressing our doubts of 

 the correctness of the information collected by Dr. O'Shaughnessy we 

 are actuated by no unkind or uncourteous spirit, but simply by a desire 

 to arrive at the actual truth, and if Dr. O'Shaughnessy can satisfactori- 

 ly authenticate the statements alluded to, we will gladly acknowledge 

 the inferiority of our own information. 



Dr. O'Shaughnessy in illustration of his opinion that fusion of con- 

 ductors takes place generally, (though certainly not universally) only at 

 the point of entrance and exit of the electricity falling upon them, 



