[ 7^5 ] 
every refpeCl : the firft flroke will make it ftrongly 
electrical. 
In a paper I laid before the Royal Society, on the 
6th of December laft, I conjectured, that the electri- 
city of the atmofphere might be obferved even in the 
winter j which I have fince found to be true : for in 
the fucceeding months of January, February, and 
March, my apparatus was electrified no lefs than 
twenty-five times, both pofitively and negatively, by 
dhow, as well as by hail and rain ; and to almoft as 
great a degree, when Fahrenheit’s thermometer was 
between 28 and 34, as I ever knew it in the fummer, 
except in a thunder-florm. 
I fhall be glad, if thefe obfervations and experi- 
ments may engage perfons of more leifure and fupe- 
rior abilities to purfue this inquiry ; as it is highly 
probable their refearches would be rewarded by 
many ufeful difcoveries. I have the honour to be. 
Spital-Square, 
Nov. 11, 1754. 
My Lord, 
Your Lordfhip’s molt obedient, 
and obliged humble fervant, 
John Canton. 
XCIV. 
