So a Dr. musgrave’s Reafons for dijfenting 
I apprehend to be fometimes true, and fometimes alio 
falfe. 
* 
But before I attempt to fpecify the particular cafes in 
which the fharp and the blunt terminations are refpec- 
tively more liable to electrical explofions, it may be of ufe 
tofhew(what many gentlemen feemnottobe thoroughly 
aware of) that fharp points having the moft perfect 
communication with the earth, are not wholly exempt 
from receiving them. My firft authority fir all be Dr. 
franklin himfelf. “ Let a perfon,” fays he, p. 60. 
“ Handing on the floor, prefent the point of a needle at 
“ twelve or more inches from it [the prime condu&or], 
i( and while the needle is fo prefented, the conductor 
“ cannot be charged, the point drawing off the fire as 
“ fail as it is thrown on by the electrical globe. Let it 
“ be charged, and then prefent the point at the fame dif- 
“ tance, and it will fuddenly be difcharged.” The word 
fuddenly means, I fuppofe, that it will receive an explo- 
fion; that being the moft natural and obvious proof of 
the fuddennefs of the difcharge. The fame thing is more 
directly afferted by Mr. henly, in vol. lxiv. of the Phil. 
Tranf. p. 138. where he informs us, that in difcharging 
three of his large jars, to the coating of which he had 
connected a wire nicely tapered to a point, the fire flew 
to the point, and the jars were difcharged with a full and 
loud 
