[ *34 ] 
oi- fealing-wax, about feven inches afunder, and as 
many from the end of a prime conductor, which 
was eighteen inches long, and one inch and an 
half diameter ; and had a ball, at each end, two 
inches and a half diameter : the diameter of the 
electrical globe being nine inches. On the top 
of the box A, I placed a wire, projecting three 
inches from the end of it, and terminated by a 
ball three quarters of an inch in diameter. On 
the top of the box B, I placed a fharp poi; ted 
wire, projecting alfo three inches from its end. 
The knob and point were now exaCtly at the 
lame difiance, namely, feven inches, from the 
end of the conductor. Then, giving the winch 
five or fix turns, the light cork balls, hanging 
from the box A, were repelled to the difiance of 
one inch from each other ; but thofe hanging 
from the box B, feparated tull two inches. Then 
touching the prime conductor with a finger, the 
balls at A clofed, while thofe at B remained a full 
inch afunder. From this experiment, I think it 
feems evident, how much better adapted a fharp 
point is, to draw off lightning, than a knob of 
three quarters of an inch in diameter; and, con- 
fequently, how much more likely to caule it to 
pals in that conductor, to which it is affixed, rather 
than in any other part of the building, where it 
might occafion much damage, as well as endanger 
the lives of thofe, who might happen to be in 
ir. The following experiments feem to make 
ff ill more ftrongly in favour of the fame con- 
clufion. 
6 
EXPE- 
