288 On Lightning Conductors to Powder Magazines, [No. 99. 



In my opinion, a good conductor well connected with the 

 earth cannot do harm to a building under its protection, i. e. 

 though it may induce a discharge on the building; and the 

 discharge in itself cannot give rise to any secondary effects 

 which are likely to place the building in more danger than it 

 would have been subject to, had the conductor not been there. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 

 To James C. Melvill, Esq. (Sigd.) Wm. Faraday. 



&c. &c. &c. 



' (No. 6.; 

 Letter from Professor Daniell to Mr. Melvill. 



King's College, London, August 24, 1839. 



My dear Sir, — I have carefully perused and considered the 

 papers which you have done me the honor to transmit to me, 

 relating to the subject of lightning conductors in the East Indies, 

 and now beg to submit for the consideration of the Chairman 

 of the Court of Directors, according to your request, the follow- 

 ing remarks upon them. 



2. It is with the greatest surprise, I have learnt that the 

 question of the efficacy of lightning conductors, which has been 

 considered by all the leading philosophers in Europe and Ame- 

 rica as settled by the uniform experience of nearly one hun- 

 dred years, is still thought to be undetermined by some of the 

 scientific men in the Honorable Company* s Service ; and that 

 the Governor General and Council, under the influence of their 

 opinion, have come to the conclusion, that in (i attempting to 

 <e protect Powder Magazines by their means more danger 

 ce than advantage is likely to result from the measure/' Should 

 this conclusion be unfounded, as I believe all experience 

 will prove it to be, it must be of the utmost consequence, 

 that it should be corrected, especially in a country peculiarly 

 liable to the paroxysms of tropical storms. That Powder 

 Magazines unprovided with conductors are liable to be fired 

 by lightning, is proved by the blowing up of the Magazine 



