[ 232 ] 
This is the loweft mark which is left of the effects 
of the lightning. 
In every part that is damaged, the lightning has. 
adted as an elaftic fluid, endeavouring to expand 
itfelf where it was accumulated in the metal: and 
the effects are exadtly fimilar to thofe which would 
have been produced by gun-powder pent up in the 
fame places, and exploded. Amongft many other 
ftones thrown to a confiderable diftance by thefe ex- 
plofions, one weighing above feventy pounds was 
removed fifty yards Eaftward from the fteeple, where 
it fell through the roof of a houfe. 
It is evident that thefe effects would have been 
prevented, if a lufficiently large metallic conductor 
had been extended from the metal at the top of the 
fpire down to the earth, communicating with the 
other metallic parts of the building that lay in it's 
way. 
From feveral obfervations which I made on this 
occafion, fuch a communication feems neceftary in 
buildings of this form. The iron bars, which were 
fixed in the ftonework of the Eaft arches were firuck 
by the lightning, while thofe in the arches fronting 
them on the Weft fide of the fame flory remained 
untouched by it. So that I do not apprehend, that 
a conductor communicating with the Weft arches 
only, would have preferved the oppofite ones from 
the damage which they have fuffered. 
When fuch buildings are expofed to very large 
clouds replete with lightning, there is no reafon to 
imagine that they will not convey fome of their 
contents to other metallic parts of the building at 
the fame time as to the metal at the top : for though 
the 
