[ i 4 6 ] 
to the middle of the tube, and leave a diftance 
of about half an inch, between the ends of the 
two: as in a curious experiment of Mr. lane’s, 
made with fmall phials. A flight fhock., difcharged 
through this apparatus, inftantly breaks the tube 
in pieces, at that part, where the eleCtric matter 
quits the upper wire, and expands itfelf in the 
water, before it reaches the lower one ; as the na- 
tural electricity hath been obferved to do, in bodies, 
wherein it hath met with fuch an interrupted 
and broken communication of metal ; but Mr. 
nairne having fixed, at the top of fuch a glafs 
tube, and united with the wire of it, a piece of 
very l'mall harpfichord wire, which was continued 
to the bottom of it, and there fattened to a regular 
communication of metal, in contaCt with the coat- 
ing of the jars ; he difcharged through it his four 
batteries united, confifting of fixty- four jars, con- 
taining fifty fquare feet of coated furface fully 
charged, when the whole of the fmall wire was 
inftantly exploded and loft ; but the tube re- 
mained unhurt. An effeCt analogous to that of 
the natural electricity, where, though it hath 
fometimes happened, that the conductor, being too 
fmall, hath been in part deftroyed, or much in- 
jured by a ftroke ; yet the building, to which fuch 
a conductor hath been affixed, hath efcaped, with- 
out receiving the leaffc damage. 
Among fome very interefting remarks on the 
effeCts of lightning, by the ingenious Profellor 
WINTHROP of NEW CAMBRIDGE, which liav© 
lately been communicated to me by my learned 
friend Dr., franklin, I find one, on the influence 
