114 
On the following day, in the course of a conversation 
respecting the storm of the previous evening, I mentioned 
the phenomenon to Mr, Thistlethwaite, who informed me 
that he had been particularly struck by the extraordinary 
appearance of this singular flash, which he had observed 
whilst sitting in the “ parsonage” (the house adjoining the 
south-west side of the Manchester and Liverpool District 
Bank), and which to him appeared exactly as I have 
depicted it. This gentleman could, however, have seen the 
upper portion of the flash only, as the houses in Lord Street 
and on the Promenade intervened between his point of 
observation and the shore. 
Heavy rain seemed to follow in the wake of the third 
flash, and came on with a noise like that of a great rush of 
wind, but as the direction of the storm was nearly coincident 
with the water line, inclining but slightly towards the beach, 
about ten minutes elapsed before the downfall reached the 
place where I stood. 
From the information I afterwards obtained, the thunder- 
storm was subsequently, a few miles to the north-east of 
Southport, more severe than it was in Southport itself. 
Southport, 11th March, 1878. B. St. J. B. Jocjle. 
Mr. Baxendell said that Mr. Joule’s observation, con- 
firmed as it was by Mr. Thistlethwaite, was very important, 
as the phenomenon he described was one of extremely rare 
occurrence ; he had himself closely observed many thunder- 
storms, but had never seen a lightning flash similar to the 
one depicted by Mr. Joule. 
The President said he had seen a similar discharge at 
Saddleworth about 30 years ago. 
“On a Barometer,” by Dr. J. P. Joule, F.B.S., &c. 
Some years ago I brought under the notice of the Society 
a syphon barometer, the peculiarity of which consisted in 
the introduction of a small quantity of sulphuric acid. I 
hoped that the diminution of the capillary effect, and the 
extreme mobility of the mercury thus obtained, would pre- 
sent some advantages. I found however that the opinion 
expressed by Dr. It. A. Smith, viz., that the acid would act 
