( to) 
It feems to me to proceed from fome Giuftick Vapour 
{of a like Nature with the Ingredients of Gun* Powder) 
difperfed in the Air from the Clouds downward^ (thefe 
Clouds being at this time very low) which Vapour be- 
ing in fome Places thicker than in others, when it 
chance thto be fired , the Flame flies like Lightning, 
(as the Phrafe is ) or fired Gun*powder, according 
as the Matter leads it, and makes more or lefs Explofion 
here and there, as the Matter is more or lefs copious. 
It feems that in and over this Ditch, there was plenty 
ofTuch Matter,* and perhaps even under thofcwho were 
thus killed or wounded : And then, it is not flrange 
that fuch Effects (hould happen, as are defcribed ; For 
the like would have happened if Gun- powder had been 
fo fired. And if this Explofive Quality were attended 
with that of Glaciation (as Thunder is after accompa- 
nied with Hail, Niter being a proper Efficient of both,) 
there might be fuch Concretions, in the Nature of Hail 
as might (by fuch Explofion) be fcattered like Hail-lhot 
out of a Gun, and caufe fuch Holes as are faid to have 
been in the Cloaths and Feet of thefe Perfons. And 
what is faid to have been obferved by others at a Di- 
ftance, like a Ball of Fire falling down directly upon the 
Place, might be a Propagation of the Flame kindled 
above , and continued , as the Vapour direfted 
it, to the Place (as would be in a Train of Gun- 
powder) and might there hurt fome and fpare others, 
according as it was here or there more Copious. For 
we are not to prefume that it was in all Places equally 
mixed. 
And the Cores which came out of the Wounds, feem 
like Efcars made by a Cauftick or other Burnings ; Of 
which Phyficians and Chirurgeons are the proper 
Judges. 
I 
