[ 493 ] 
to the Bottom of the Field, made fomewhat mote 
than a Mile, and fixteen Returns more than two 
Miles, the Quantity of Wire intended for the Elec- 
tricity to pafs through to make the Experiment. 
We had found lad Year, that, upon difcharging 
the electrified Phials, if two Obfervers made their 
Bodies Part of the Circuit, one of which grafped 
the leaden Coating of the Phial in one Hand, and 
held in his other one Extremity of the conducing 
Wire; and if the other Obferver held the other Ex- 
tremity of the conducting Wire in one Hand, and 
took in his other the fhort iron Rod with which 
the Explofion was made ; upon this Explofion, I fay, 
they were both (hocked in the fame Inftant, which 
was that of the Explofion of the Phial. If therefore 
an Oblerver, making his Body Part of the Circuit, 
was (hocked in the Inftant of the Explofion of the 
charged Phial in the middle of the Wire, no Doubt 
would remain of the Velocity of Electricity being 
inftantaneous through the Length of that whole 
Wire. But if, on the contrary, the Time between 
making the Explofion, and feeing the Convulfions 
in the Arms of the Obferver holding the conduct- 
ing Wires, was great enough to be meafured, we 
then fhould be able to afeertain its Velocity to the 
Diftance equal to half the Quantity of Wire em- 
ployed only, let the Manner of the Electricity’s dif- 
charging itfelf be what it would. 
It has been a Queftion with fome, who have con- 
fider’d this SubjeCt, whether the Electricity, in com- 
pleating the Circuit from the Matter contained in 
the Glafs, pafied either by the Wire in the Mouth 
to the Coating of the Glafs, the contrary Way by 
T t t 2 the 
