from the Report of the Committee , Sic. S15 
one to connect the ball, and another to connect the fharp 
point with the coating of the phial, a different number 
of links, or different degree of tightnefs in the two 
chains, would produce a difference in the refult : for it 
bing a known property of electricity to pafs molt readily 
where it has the feweft and the fmalleft intervals to leap 
over, the explolion would naturally pafs that way, where 
the links were drawn tighteft ; or if both chains were left 
loofe, as from the plate they appear to have been, then 
where they were feweft in number, inftead of being de- 
termined by the circumftances of bluntnefs and lharp- 
nefs. 
It was however poffible, that Mr. henly might be 
right in attributing it to the fharpnefs of the point ; and 
therefore, in order to fettle this doubt, I deflred that the 
experiment might be tried over again in fomewhat dif- 
ferent circumftances. Mr. cavallo accordingly tried it: 
in the following manner. Upon an infulated ftand he 
placed a ball, about -^ths of an inch in diameter, and a 
fharp point, direCtly oppofite to the place where a Ley- 
den phial, when charged, was to be fet down. Both of 
thefe, the ball and point, were connected to his difcharg- 
ing rod by copper wire. He then took the phial, which 
held about a quart, and having charged it, fet it down 
before the ball and point, took his difcharging rod, and 
completed , 
