C 215 1 
tf pofe, they conducted electricity much lefs perfectly 
than metai under the like circumfbmces would 
a have done, 1 doubt not, but tiiat they were greatly 
“ inftrumentai in averting the danger, with which 
u thd fhip was threatened. 
<c Upon thefe conhderations, I do not fcruple to 
“ recommend, as Mr. Franklin has done, comm uni- 
“ cations of metal between the fpindles and iron- 
<c work at the tops of the mafts of fhips, and the fea; 
<c or, which will anfwer the fame purpofe, the bilge 
tc water in the well. This can be liable to little 
“ objection, as the doing it is neither difficult,, nor 
“ expenhve ; an iron wire, of the thicknefs of a goofe- 
“ quill, conducting electricity more readily than any 
piece of timber, however large; and thefe malts 
“ do it fo much the worfe, as they are of a refinous 
“ nature. 
“ From attending to thefe phenomena, we every 
et day fee more and more the perfect analogy (to 
“ compare great things with fmall) between the 
“ highly electrifed glafs jar, in the experiment of 
“ Leyden, and a cloud replete with the matter of 
cc thunder. But more of this poffibly upon fome 
future occahon. 
“ Though the number and continuance of the St. 
“ Helmo's fires, in the paffage before-mentioned, 
<c probably tended greatly to preferve the fhip from 
<c the deftruction, with which it was then threatened, 
“ yet the caufe may be too great, and come on too 
“ faff, to be leffened enough by thefe means to avert 
“ the mifehief. Thus in the account, publiffied in 
4< the * Philofophical Pranfatlions. from Captain John 
- Waddel, 
* Vol. XLVI. p. 111. 
