Sundry  Papers , Sec. 
a33 
TO  SIR  CHARLES  FREDERICK*  KNT.  OF  THE  BATH. 
Purfleet, 
May  1 6,  1777. 
HONOURABLE  SIR'y 
YESTERDAY  afternoon  we  had  much  ram  and 
■diitant  thunder;  but  at  fix  a -very  heavy  cloud,  in  palling 
over  the  houfe,  prefented  us  with  part  of  its  contents,  . 
which  ftruck  the  North-eaft  corner  of  the  houfe  on  one 
of  the  cramps  that  held  the  copeing  ftones  together, 
forced  off  about  a fquare  foot  of  that  ftone  and  one  brick, 
and  has  difplaced  about  a cube  foot  of  brick- work  under- 
neath. It  has  not  been  yet  difeovered  that  any  of  the 
conductors  have  aCted  during  the  paflage  of  that  cloud, 
although  the  flafh  and  report  were  both  very  great.  One 
of  my  fervants  was  out  of  doors  by  the  coach-houfe  at 
the  fame  time,  and  narrowly  efcaped  falling  by  the 
ftrength  of  the  flafh  : the  others  were  in  the  houfe,  but 
were  much  frightened.,  My  fon  fays,  that  there  is  a dent 
in  the  cramp,  on  which  the  .lightning  fell,  and  I intend 
to  preferve  it  as  a curiolity.  If  the  conductor  on  the 
houfe  has  aCted,  it  is  imperceptible  as  I am  informed.  I . 
thought  this  account  would  be  acceptable  to  you  from,  v 
Honourable  fir,  Sec.  . 
EDWARD  NICKSON. 
TO. 
