494 Official Correspondence on the attaching of 



he had made, and repeatedly assured us nothing else had 

 been done. We then asked him if he had altered the pointy 

 and he replied in the negative. 



Thirdly. — Dr. O'Shaughnessy erroneously speaks of the 

 iron as if it had constituted the spear head, whereas it 

 formed only the spear point. Its entire length is not above 4| 

 inches, and at its thicker extremity two thin straps are fixed 

 to admit of its being fastened to the wooden shaft. The 

 head of the spear is formed of wood covered with thin sheet 

 copper. On this no alteration whatever was made by the 

 discharge, although from its being in contact with the iron 

 point it formed the natural path of issue for the lightning in 

 its way to the sheeting of the dome. This is only negative 

 evidence, but it has weight notwithstanding, since, if the 

 discharge could fuse a thick point of iron, it must, we are 

 warranted to conclude, have had some effect on thin sheet 

 copper. 



Fourthly. — Dr. O'Shaughnessy being acquainted with the 

 extent of the damage done to the furniture, &c. &c. of Govern- 

 ment House by the discharge, will admit that its disruptive 

 force must have been very great, at least so great as to have 

 shivered to pieces the wooden shaft of Britannia's spear, had 

 that proved an obstacle to its course ; yet we have carefully 

 examined the lower portion of this shaft, and have not 

 detected the slightest indication of its having been sub- 

 jected to intense heat or disruptive force. This may be 

 considered further negative evidence against the lightning 

 having ever impinged on the spear head.* 



Fifthly. — The entire absence of any indications of the 

 discharge having impinged either directly or laterally on the 

 iron spikes of the head of the figure, although these consti- 

 tuted a mass adjoining to the spear head. 



* M. Arago proves, " that lightning cleaves wood in the direction of 

 its length into thin laths, or still smaller fragments," — Ed. Cal. Journ. 

 Nat. Hist. 



