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From the above obfervations, I am naturally led 
to confider a part of the proceedings of the com- 
mittee, refpe&ing the magazines at Pur fleet j when 
a certain number of conductors, with tapering 
points at the top, were refolved upon, as ne- 
ceffary, to proteCt the feveral buildings where the 
powder is depofited. For it was agreed upon at the 
fame meeting, that the Board-houfe , which is a 
large building for the ufe of the board-officers, and 
which ftands confiderably higher than the maga- 
zines, as was obferved above, did not require any 
point at the top : becaufe it was apprehended to be 
perfectly fecure , bv reafon of the copeings on the roof, 
the gutters and pipes to carry off the water, being 
all of lead : and further, becaufe thofe pipes com- 
municated with two wells, which always contained 
water. 
I was not a little furprized at this laffc refolution, 
which appeared to be fo inconfiffent with the for- 
mer. Becaufe, if points were neceffary in one place, 
they ought to be lo in another. And on the other 
hand, if the Board-houfe is fecure by the leaden 
accidental conductors, which have no points, why 
ought not the magazines to be equally fecure, when 
put into the fame circumftances ? 
I therefore enforced the inconjifiency of fuch a 
refolution in the ftrongeft terms. Notwithftanding 
which, the gentlemen, at that time, thought pro- 
per to confirm their refolution. However, at the 
next meeting of the committee, I obferved that 
they had been pleafed, in the mean time, to make 
an amendment in favour of points for the board- 
houfe ; 
