[ 53 8 ] 
here, which I was a witnefs to. The fear, that feiz’d 
ieveral ladies, who were prefent, hinder’d its conti- 
nuation ; and we were even obliged to take away the 
bar, and the whole apparatus. 
After this experiment, I propos’d fatisfying myfelf 
concerning a notion I conceiv’d, and which the wea- 
ther fuffer’d me to execute but imperfectly. The 
nature of the vapours, which compofe thunder, is not 
abfolutely unknown to us. Would not the mixture of 
falts, fulphur, pyrites, &c. produce vapours capable 
of eleCtrifing a bar of iron ? By fufpending a bar of 
iron upon filken cords, and caufing a wire to defcend 
into a large glafs recipient, wherein pyrites and other 
analogous matters, as fea-falt with oil of vitriol, may 
be made to ferment, in order to produce a vapour, 
which would contain fpirit of fait, or which might 
develope the electrical matter; might not we come 
to produce the fame phaenomenon with that pro- 
duced in a ftorm ? Upon this footing I tried fome 
experiments, which my bufinefs hinder’d me from 
purfuing ; but the fuccefs did not perfectly anfwer 
my expectation. I thought I perceiv’d fome figns of 
eledtricity; but they were fo doubtful, that I do not 
mention them. If I make any future attempts of this- 
kind, I fhall have the honour of communicating 
them. I am, with the moil refpeCtful attachment,, 
S I R, 
Your moil humble and 
mod obedient fervant. 
Guill. Mazeas. 
SIR, 
