[ 3 
V. A Letter from Captain John Waddell 
to Mr . Naphthali Franks Merchant , con- 
cerning the EffeSls of Lightning in deftroy - 
ing the Polarity of a Mariners Compafs 5 
to which are fub joined fome Remarks thereon r 
by Gowin Knight, M. B, F. R. S. 
SIR , Horjlydo'wn , Feb. 22, 1748-9. 
Read April 13. \ Greeable to my Promife I have here 
1749 LX. inclos'd you the Heads of our Mif- 
fortune, and have alfo fent you one of the Com- 
pares, and am, with great Eftecm, 
SIR , 
Tour moft obedient humble Servant , 
John Waddell. 
■ - ~ ■, •. ’ , : ' . ■ . 1 i • * : ' 
1 r 
O N the 9th of January 1748-9. the new Ship 
Dover, bound from New fork to London, 
being then in Lat. 47 0 30' North, and Longitude 
22 0 1 5' Weft, from London, met with a very hard 
Storm of Wind, attended with Thunder and Light- 
ning, as ufual, moft Part of the Evening, and fundry 
very large Comazants (as we call them) over head, 
fome of which fettled on the Spintles at the Top- 
maft Heads, which burnt like very large Torches j 
and at 9 p.m. a fingle loud Clap of Thunder with 
Lightning ftruck the Ship in a violent manner, 
which 
