[ 3*2 ] 
the electrical fluid in a ftorm, never fucceeded for the 
common electricity of the air. I always found it nearly 
extinct, never exerting itfelf beyond a certain fphere 
of action, and that very inconftderable. 
Obf 7. 
When the ftorm v clouds were in the zenith of my 
wire, I obferved, tnat the electricity was increafed to 
lb high a point, that the filken thread attracted light 
bodies at the didance of feven or eight inches. This 
cord was lix feet long, and in the firft foot the elec- 
tricity was nearly as ftrong as in the wire, but from 
thence it diminifhed in the reft of the length. I fub- 
ftituted a glafs tube to the ftlken cord, and obferved 
the lame phenomenon, with this difference, that the 
electrical fluid penetrated it with greater difficulty. 
Obf. 8. 
The ftormy clouds, which I mentioned before, re- 
mained about two hours above the horizon, without 
either thunder or lightning ; nor did a very heavy rain 
diminifh the electricity, except about the end, when 
the clouds began to be diffipated ; and for that time 
I left my apparatus. 
About fix o' clock in the evening I was told, that 
there were fignsof a new ftorm in the air : I went up, 
and while I was preparing matters, a young man of 
the town, thirty- five years old, fubject to an epilepfy, 
was among the fpectators. The fmall time, which 
the ftorm lafted, was not enough to make many tri- 
als in ; and the following was what I moft attended 
to : 
I drew 
