C 7 6r ] 
grees of its electricity. But if it exploded upon a 
houfe, tree, or the like, the loudnefs of that explo- 
fion would be equal to the firft ; as in this cafe, it 
has an opportunity of parting, at once, with its whole 
charge of eleCtricity, which, by fuppolition, was fo. 
Hence we fee, that one electrified cloud only may be 
productive of many claps of thunder; and that thofe 
proceeding originally from that cloud, will become 
weaker, as the whole quantity of eleCtricity may at 
laft be divided amongft many clouds; and from 
hence feveral phenomena, which appear during a 
thunder-ftorm, and which fucceed it, may be ac- 
counted for. If therefore any flafhes of lightning 
were feen that evening, after the experiment with 
the kite, you fee how thofe might be produced, whe- 
ther the cloud was deprived of its eleCtricity or not. 
Electrified clouds have an eleCtrical atmofphere, 
as well as the prime-conduCtor, when it is electri- 
fied ; and the diameter of that atmofphere, cczteris 
paribus , will bear fome proportion to the fize of the 
cloud. My fmalleft prime-conduCtor is two inches 
and an half in diameter ; and when it is fully charged, 
its atmofphere extends to the diftance of about three 
feet from the furface of the conductor. How great 
then muff the extent be of the atmofphere, which 
furrounds a large cloud fully electrified ? It perhaps 
may extend to many hundreds of feet round the 
cloud, and may even reach fo low as to touch the 
furface of the earth : And when that is the cafe, a 
man, or a rod of metal, placed on a cake of refin on 
the ground, may be electrified, and yield fparks of 
fire. 
When 
