from the Report of the Committee , Sec. 819 
The fum of the whole is, that conductors, terminated 
by fharp points, are fometimes advantageous, and at 
other times prejudicial. Now as the purpofe for which 
conductors are fixed upon buildings is, not to protect 
them from one particular fort of clouds only, but, if pof- 
Able, from all, it cannot furely be advifeable to ufe that 
kind of conductors, which if they diminifh danger on 
one hand, will increafe it on the other. It is the duty of 
a pilot to keep out of the way of rocks; but it is alfo in- 
cumbent upon him, in avoiding the rock, not to take fo 
large a compafs as to run his fhip upon a quickfand. 
When I fay that fharp-pointed conductors may in, 
fome cafes diminifh danger, I fpeak of them, perhaps, 
rather too favourably: for their power of ftealing away 
the eleCtric fluid being confined to cafes where the accu- 
mulation is fmall, it follows, that they only operate where 
their operation is not wanted. The cafes againft which 
we with principally to provide, are the explofions of ex- 
tenfive and highly electrified clouds; and here we have 
feen, that blunted ends, as aCting to a much fmaller dif- 
tance, are entitled to the preference. 
If it be admitted, that fharp-pointed conductors are 
attended with any, the flighted: degree of danger, how 
much muft that danger be augmented by carrying them. 
P.'vq ; 5 I 2. high: 
