JVatfon. 313 
years 1747 and 1748; in one of which, the 
eledlrical circuit was extended four miles, 
in order to prove the velocity of eledlricity; 
the refult of which convinced the atten- 
dants that it was inftantaneous {y.) 
It ought alfo to be remembered, that 
(;') ' Thefe, and other experiments, were made in fb 
* great a ftyle, and with fuch fuccefs, as to draw the ap- 
^ probation and applaufe of almoft all fucceeding philo- 
^ fophers in that branch. Among others, the celebrated 
^ VoLTA has given him teftimony of the excellence and 
* greatnefs of his experiments, in a paper publifbed within 
^ thefe few years. In that paper, he (hews how fimplc 
^ electrical conductors might be fo conftruCted, as not 
*• only to give (hocks like the Leyden phial, but even fuch 
' as are fufficiently powerful to kill large animals, and to 
^ equal the efFefts of lightning. He however exprefles 
' his defpair of ever feeing fuch put into execution ; but 
^ adds—" fZ^z Watson forfe fat ebbe ientato di farlo^ &c. 
" A Watson perhaps might be tempted to make the 
experiment : he who for another purpofe (which was, 
" that he might ftiew the extreme velocity, with which 
^' the eledlrical power communicated itfelf, from one ex- 
tremity of a condu6tor to the other, however great its 
*' length) extended infulated iron wires to more than two 
" miles in length : and to whom, on account of thefe verv 
" experiments, Muschenbroek took occafion to addrefs 
himfelf as follows ; Magnificentij]im'is iu'is experimentis 
■"^^ fuperajii conatus omnium. See a paper in Opere Scelti di 
^' Milano date Como 20 Aug, 1778." 
Mr. 
