[ 4*9 ] 
But in an open fituation , fuch an apparatus is un- 
neceffary, as one of Mr. canton’s electrometers 
having light balls, fucceeds very well, when held at 
the diftance of about two feet from the body : the 
back of the obferver being turned towards the 
wind. This method alfo ferves to determine the 
kind of it, when there is a much larger quantity of 
eleClricity in the atmoiphere; and which would 
eleCtrify the balls fo ftiongly, if held at the end of 
a long rod, high in the air; that excited wax, &c. 
being brought under them, would not produce the 
leaft alteration in their divergence. 
Notwithftanding the balls hanging from the 
end of my rod, in the open air , have in fome 
fogs diverged full two inches; yet I haye never 
been able to make a pair of very light ones, hang - 
ing from an infulated conductor, in my room , diverge 
in the leaft, by means of the eleftricity collected' 
from fuch a fog, by a long fifhing-rod, round 
which a fine pointed wire was twifted, and made 
to communicate with the conductor. On men- 
tioning this circumftance to my worthy friend 
Dr. franklin ; he defired me to try whether hav- 
ing electrified the air in one room , I could by intro- 
ducing the end of fuch an infulated rod into that 
air, make the balls diverge, when hanging at the 
cppofite end of it, in another room. I have fince tried 
the experiment in two rooms ,feparated by a paf'age, 
nine feet long , in the following manner: I drew off 
the charge of a large jar, without fuccefs; but hav- 
ing recharged it, and drawn it off a fecond time ; the 
balls hanging from the end of the rod, (upwards of 
twenty feet long) in the other room, diverged a 
full: 
