596 Whether Lightning Rods attract Lightning, 



found that the point when placed on a rod of glass or wax, had no 

 action on it*. 



When this large mass of evidence is duly considered, together 

 with the fact, that lightning strikes indiscriminately, trees, rocks, 

 and buildings, and even the ground near them, we are compelled 

 to admit that the thunder-rods of Franklin are perfectly precise 

 in their operation, and that the common notion, that they " invite 

 destruction" to our buildings, is not warranted by any sound argu- 

 ment drawn from experience. 



It may not be unimportant to notice here the following extract 

 from the Memoirs of the Count de Forbin, already alluded to (15). 

 In describing the large St. Helmo's fires, observed in the vane of 

 the main -mast, he says, " I ordered one of the sailors to take it 

 (the vane) down ; but scarcely had he taken the vane from its place, 

 when the fire fixed itself on the head of the main-mast, from which 

 it was impossible to remove itt," so that the presence of the metallic 

 point was not at all necessary to the electrical discharge. 



Before quitting the subject of the absolute protection from 

 lightning afforded by conductors, the Naval Commission inquire, 

 whether, according to the common prejudice, conductors have the 

 power of attracting a flash of lightning, which in their absence 

 would not have occurred ; and their report states " that instances 

 of accidents to ships without conductors, and the comparatively 

 rare occurrence of lightning being observed to strike on a conduc- 

 tor, would tend to negative such a supposition^." They further 

 consider, from the instances which were submitted to them, of ships 

 without conductors having been struck by lightning, in the presence 

 of ships furnished with them, which were not so struck, that most 

 complete evidence is afforded " either of the little influence exerted 

 by such conductors in inducing or attracting an explosive dis- 

 charge, or of their efficacy in harmlessly and imperceptibly con- 

 veying away electricity to the water§." 



* Franklin's Letters, p. 56. 

 f Letters on Electricity. By the Abbe Nollet.— Vide Phil. Trans, for 175.% 

 p. 201. 

 X Report of Commission, p. 4. § Report of Commission p. 4. 



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