E 553 3 
XCII. Extracts of Two Letters of the Able 
Nollet, F. R. S. to Mr. William Watfon, 
F. R, S. relating to the extra&ing Electri- 
city from the Clouds. Tranfated from the 
French. 
Pari?, Jane 6. 1752. N. S. 
Read June 1 !,/“■ \ HE Abbe, after having taken notice 
l 75 2 - of the difcovery of M. Dalibard in 
France, in relation to the .extracting the electricity 
from the clouds during a thunder-ftorm, in confe- 
quence of Mr. Franklin’s hypothecs, acquaints Mr. 
Watfon, that he is more interefted than any body to 
come at the faCts, which prove a true analogy be- 
tween lightning and electricity 3 fince thefe experi- 
ments eftablifh inconteftably a truth, which he had 
conceived, and which he ventured to lay before the 
public more than four years ago. Examine but the 
feurth volume of his Lefons de Phyfique , pag. 314, 
and you will find what follows : “ If any one fhould 
tc take upon him to prove, from a well- connected 
u comparifon of phenomena, that thunder is in the 
“ hands of nature, what electricity is in ours 3 that 
“ the wonders, which we now exhibit at our plea- 
a fure, are little imitations of thofe great effects 
<c which frighten us 3 and that the whole depends 
“ upon the fame mechanifm 3 if it is to be demon- 
<c ftrated, that a cloud, prepared by the action of the 
“ winds, by heat, by a mixture of exhalations, &c. 
“ is oppofite to a terreftrial object 3 that this is the 
u electrifed body, and at a certain proximity from 
A a a a u that 
