( 6s6 ) 
Now this nearners or farneft may be eftimated by 
the Diftance of Time between feeing the Flafli of 
Lightning, and hearing the Noi(e of the Thunder. 
For though in their Generation, they be fimultaneous ; 
yet (Light moving fafter than Sound) they come to 
us fucceffively. I have obferved that, commonly, the 
Noift is about Seven or Eight Seconds after the 
Flafli ( that is, about half a quarter of a Minute ) ; 
but fometimes much fooner, in a Second or Two, or 
lefs than fo, and ahnoft immediately upon the Fiafli. 
And at fuch time, the Explofion muft needs be very 
near us, or even amongil us. And, in fuch Cafes, 
I have ( more than once) prefaged the Expeftation 
of Mifthief, and it hath proved accordingly, in the 
Deftrudion of Men or Cattel, and the like. (As 
once at Oxford; when, within half an Hour after fuch 
Prefage, I heard of one killed at Medley^ hard by, 
and others endangered ; and another time at Towce-^ 
fier, when within a few Hours after, we heard of Five 
Perfons killed at Everton, about Four or Five Miles 
from us, and others wounded ; befide other Hurt 
done.) 
Now, that there is in Lightning a Sulphurous Va- 
pour, is manifeft from the Sulphurous Smell which 
attends it, efpecially when Hurt is done; and even 
where no Hurt is done, from the Lightning it ftlf, 
more or left difcernable. And a (bultry Heat in the 
Air, is commonly a Fore-runner of Lightning foon 
after. 
And that there is alfb a Nitrous Vapour with it, 
we may reafbnably judge, becaufe we do not know 
of 
