290 Mifcellane^L Curiofa. Vol. III. 



Trees tvvifted, as if it had been a fmall Wil- 

 low that a Man had twifted with his Hand^ 

 which I could fuppofe had been done by na- 

 thing but the Thunder. I have been told by 

 very ferious Planters, that 30 or 40 Years 

 Jince, when the Country was not fo open, 

 the Thunder was more fierce, and that fome- 

 times after violent Thunder and Rain, the 

 Roads would feem to have perfeft cafts of 

 Brimftone and 'tis frequent after much 

 Thunder and Lightning for the Air to have 

 a perfed Sulphurious Smell. Durft I offer 

 my weak Reafons when I write jto fo great 

 Mafters thereof, I fhould h^re confider the 

 nature of Thunder, and compare it with 

 ibme Sulphurious Spirits which I have drawn 

 from Coals, that I could no way cond enfe, 

 yet were inflamable nay, would burn after 

 they pafs'd through Water, and that feem- 

 ingly fiercer, if they were 'not over-power'd 

 therewith. I have kept of this Spirit a con- 

 liderable time in Bladders ^ and tho' it ap- 

 peared as if they were only blown with Air, 

 yet if I let it forth, and fired it with a Match 

 or Candle, it would continue burning till all 

 were fpent. It might be worthy Confidera- 

 tion likewife, whether thofe frequent Thun- 

 ders proceeded from the Air's being more 

 ftagnant, the motion of the. Winds being im- 

 peded by the Trees, or whether the rnotion 

 rof the ^A/inds being obftruded by them be- 

 low, the motion might not be more violent 

 aioft and how far that may promote inflam- 

 mability, for Stacks of Hay or Corn that fer- 

 ment with moifture, never burn, unlefs when 

 brisk Winds. blQW> that agitate and fan the 

 : I little 



