1841.] On Lightning Conductors to Powder Magazines. 9 



towards one with whom they may have been placed in disagreeable 

 relations. I speak of course generally, and solely with reference to the 

 hardship of being expected to force forward the testimony referred to. 



Throughout his remarks, the writer attaches much more importance 

 to the question of the spear-point being struck or fused, than it in 

 reality deserves ; but as he admits, (p. 492, last paragraph) that had 

 it been so struck, the fact would have been " fatal to his pre-conceived 

 opinion as to the course of the lightning on that occasion," I am war- 

 ranted in adducing some further evidence in support of my statement. 



On the morning after the accident, I was invited by Captain Fitzge- 

 rald to visit Government House, and offer him suggestions as to 

 the repairs required, and the re-arrangement of the conductors. I went 

 there in the evening and met Mr. Barnes, who shewed me the broken 

 articles, and the course of the explosion. Captain Fitzgerald I now 

 recollect was not present on that occasion. I wrote to Captain 

 Fitzgerald next day, and among other suggestions I especially dwelt on 

 the necessity of replacing the wooden spear by one of metal, con- 

 necting this with the copper of the dome, and this lastly by metallic 

 straps, with four additional conductors to be erected adjacent to the 

 dome. Captain Fitzgerald's report, hereunto annexed, shews that my 

 suggestions were carried into effect. On this I have here one remark 

 to make. If this report be correct, if my suggestions have been 

 followed, if the metal spear has been erected, what becomes of your 

 correspondent's assertions that the identical point has been replaced, 

 and that he has re-examined the lower part of the original spear. 

 If, on the other hand, the wooden spear has been replaced as it origi- 

 nally stood, then every impartial electrician will admit,* that the Go- 

 vernment House of Calcutta will in all probability be again, and at no 

 distant period, the scene of a similar casuality to that of the 29th of 

 March, 1838. In this case it is in truth provided with a snare for 

 every thunder-cloud that passes. 



With reference to my plans, before the writer censures these he 

 should in fairness clearly and fully state what they are. This he does 

 not do, and for such a statement I refer to the Journal of the Asiatic 

 Society for 1839, in which my papers are published. If the Editor 



* As Captain Fitzgerald does indirectly in his report.— W. B. O'S. 



