i8 1 4 Dr. musgrave’s Reafons for dijfenting 
occurred, it is but doing juftice to my argument toinfert 
it here. In the experiments made with a view to fettle 
this diipute, and publifhed by Mr. henly about four 
years ago, there is one, the fifth of that fet, which it is 
difficult to reconcile with the doctrine here laid down, 
that electricity ftrongly accumulated, and moving with 
great velocity, will explode upon a fliarp point rather 
than a ball. 
He defcribes it thus : u Having infulated the jar, and 
4i connected by chains with the external coating, on one 
“ fide a knob, and on the other fide a fharp-pointed wire, 
“ both being infulated and {landing five inches from 
■“ each other, I placed a large copper ball, eight inches 
61 in diameter (infulated alfo) fo as to Hand exactly at 
“ half an inch diftance both from the knob and the 
“ point. The jar being fully charged, I delivered it upon 
the copper ball by my difcharging rod, whence it 
“ leaped to the knob, which was three quarters of an 
“ inch in diameter, and the jar was difcharged by a loud 
“ and full explofion, and the chain was very luminous.” 
Phil. Tranf. vol. lxiv. p. 136. 
It mult be obvious to any careful eleClrician, and Mr. 
Wilson had in his anfwer obferved, that an experiment 
thus loofely and unphilofophically made, was not greatly 
to be relied upon; becaufe two chains being made ufe of, 
4 one 
