[ +!2 1 
, 
the point more acute, the ftroke would have been 
much lertened ; if not abfolutely prevented. If, 
in he ad of thofe chains, plates of copper, three fix- 
teenths of an inch thick, and two inches in dia- 
meter, with the edges neatly rounded off, were 
inferted in a groove, and continued down the 
main-top-gallant-maft, the main-top-mart, and 
part of the main- mart, into the well-hole; a 
communication from the maft, to the under-iide 
of one of the decks, might be made with a plate, 
or rod of metal, flattened at each end ; and from 
that rod, the conductor might.be continued by 
plates of lead, or copper, on the under-iide of 
the deck, and down both the outer-iides of the 
Hi ip, as low as the keel, if it be thought neceifary : 
and this method (the condudfor being always in rea- 
dinefs, and kept perfedtly in order) 1 fhould appre- 
hend would be preferable to the chains, which are 
now in ufe. Particular care fhould be taken, to have 
all the plates, which form the condudfor, as nearly 
as poflible in contadt with each other, and to fix 
a (harp-pointed, flender rod of copper at its fum- 
mit. And for the pnrpofe of connedfing the 
plates, inferted in the main-top-gallant-maft, 
the main-top-mart, and the main-mart ; if an 
hoop of copper were fixed in a groove of its 
own thickneis, at the top of the main-mart 
and another l'uch hoop at the upper end of 
the main-top-part ; perhaps they might an- 
fwer this end very conveniently C'K The learned 
and ingenious Dr. watson, f. r. s. hath, with 
(i) If an objection fhould be made to cutting grooves in the 
mails, the plates of metal, which form the conductor, might 
readily be fattened upon the lurface, and very fecurely.. 
great 
