fotne  "Electrical  Experiments.  159 
derable  explofion,  whether  points  or  balls  are  the  upper 
terminations  of  the  conductors  of  the  houfes ; but  no 
refiduum  is  left  in  the  battery. 
Hence  appears  the  difference  of  effect,  whether  the 
houfes  ftand  in  a ftate  of  nature,  or  in  a negative  {late ; 
and  whether  the  conductors  be  made  complete  with 
wire,  or  water  infulated. 
I have  by  fixteen  years  practice  been  convinced  how 
difficult  it  is  to  draw  general  conclufions  from  any  elec- 
trical experiments,  and  therefore  it  becomes  me  to  pro- 
pofe  my  conjectures  with  the  greateft  diffidence  ; but,  X 
apprehend,  the  refult  of  many  experiments  lhew  that 
points  at  the  upper  termination  of  conductors  gradually 
diminifh  or  draw  off  the  eletrical  matter,  fo  as  to  pre- 
vent  any  damage  to  the  buildings  on  which  they  are 
placed,  %y  preventing  a violent  explofion ; and  that,  on- 
the  contrary,  balls,  though  perhaps  they  will  repel  the 
eletrical  matter  in  fome  degree,  yet  from  that  very  cir- 
cumftance,  probably,  the  explofion,  when  it  happens*  is  . 
violent,  and  attended  with  danger. 
I am,  &c. 
