C 249 j 
ln*om repeated obfervations of this kind, there is 
reafon to believe, the quantity of lightning at parti- 
culai times is fo very great, that it would be danger- 
ous to invite it to any buildings, and that unnecefla- 
rily, in the moft powerful manner we are able ; by 
differing the feveral conductors to end in a point at 
the top. 
On which account, it is -apprehended, pointed bars , 
or rods of metal , ought always to be avoided. 
And as the lightening mud vifit us, fome way or 
other, from necefiity, to reftore the equilibrium , there 
can be no reafon to invite it at all : but, on the con- 
trary, when it happens to attack our buildings, we 
ought only fo to contrive our apparatus, as to be able 
to carry the lightening away again by fuch fuitable 
conductors, properly fixed, as will very little, if at 
all, promote any encreafe of it’s quantity. 
Xo attain which defirable end, in tome degree at 
lead, it is propofed, that the feveral buildings remain 
as they are at the top ; that is, without having any 
metal above them , either pointed or not y by way of 
a conductor. 
On the infide of the highed part of fuch building, 
and within a foot or two of the top, it may be pro- 
per to fix a rounded bar of metal, and to continue 
it down along the fide of the wall to any kind of 
moidure in the ground. 
But if the building happens to be mounted with 
an iron fpindle, for fupporting a vane, or other orna- 
ment, and it fhould not be convenient to have it 
taken away, then the bar of metal ought to commu- 
nicate with that fpindle. 
And in regard to the diameter of fuch a metal 
bar, it will probably depend upon the height 
Vol. LIL. K k of 
