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the fame time to prove, that there is no clear evi- 
dence for the truth of it from any relations hitherto 
pub) idled. 
The inftances, that are moft generally given of cold 
fuflon, are two ; that of a fword being melted in its 
fcabbard, and that of money being melted in a bag, 
both the fcabbard and bag remaining unhurt. A great 
number of authors have mentioned both the facfts, 
without giving their own teftimony, or that of any 
one elfe, for the truth of them, or defcribing any of 
the other concomitant circumftances. However, it 
feems poffible, that lightning might produce effects - 
fufticiently fimilar to thefe, to give rife to fuch re- 
ports, without our being obliged to have recourfe to 
a cold fuflon to account for them. 
If at any time the edge or external furface of a 
fword had been melted, whilft the main part of the 
blade remained intire, it would have afforded fuffi- 
cient grounds to affert, in general terms, that the 
fword was melted, and yet the fcabbard might have 
remained unhurt j becaufe either the edge or furface 
of a fword might be inflantly melted by lightning, 
and cooled fo fuddenly, as to make no impreffion of 
burning on the fcabbard. Metals, as well as other 
bodies, will both heat and cool fooner, in proportion 
as they are thin and flender. Very fmall wire will 
inflantly become red-hot, and even melt, and run 
into a round globule, in the flame of a common can- 
dle ; and it is no fooner removed out of the flame, 
but it is as inflantly cool. The edge of a fword there- 
fore, or even its furface, might be inflantly melted 
by lightning, and being in contact, or rather ffill 
united to the reft of the blade, which might be ftill 
cool. 
