[ r 44 ] 
for they, in the general, diverged fo much, that I 
found it very difficult to have in readinefs a fmall 
tube of glafs, or wax fufficiently excited to affedt 
them. 
It has fometimes happened that the balls of the 
tin tube, &c. perfectly at reft, have, in confequence 
of a flafti of lightning* fuddenly repelled each other, 
and immediately after clofed. As this circumftance 
has frequently happened, when the air was in a 
damp ftate, I have fometimes imagined that the 
equilibrium between the earth and lower clouds had 
been quickly reftored, on receiving the electricity of 
the higher ones; and, at other times, have fuppofed’ 
that it might be owing to the lateral effeft of the 
cxplolion. 
If two or more perfons, at a fufficient diftance. 
from each other, would correfpond, by ftgnals, viz. 
a red flag for pojltive , and a blue one for negative 
electricity, we ftiould probably obtain, in due time, , 
more fatisfacftory certainty with regard to the electricity, 
of the clouds, thunder, &c. than has hitherto been 
given, or is, perhaps* poffible for any one man to 
acquire, without the aid of wires or chains, produced 
from different apparatufles, placed at different 
diftances frona. each other. 
Mr. 
