from  Lightning  at  Purfleet.  237 
tar,  Sic.  on  purpofe  to  examine  into  this  particular. 
From  this  place  no  farther  effedt  of  the  lightning  could 
be  traced ; the  metallic  conductors  to  the  earth  having 
effectually  performed  their  office.  At  the  diftance  of 
feven  feet  and  an  half  from  the  place  ftricken,  a large 
leaden  pipe  went  down  from  the  gutter  to  a cittern  of 
water  in  the  yard. 
The  rain,  Mr.  nickson  informed  us,  had  fallen  plen- 
tifully for  fome  time  before  the  Stroke;  fo  that  the  mor- 
tar, bricks,  See.  did  probably  form  an  imperfedt  con- 
dudtor  for  the  diftance  of  feven  inches  between  the  iron 
cramp  in  the  copeing  Stones  and  the  filleting  of  lead 
above-mentioned. 
At  the  termination  of  the  iron  cramp  in  the  copeing 
ftone,  a piece  of  the  ftone,  with  one  brick,  was  ftricken 
off;  and  a few  other  bricks  were  loofened,  and  removed 
lefs  than  half  an  inch  from  their  places.  The  damage 
done  to  the  parapet  of  the  building  is  fo  inconsiderable, 
that  it  would  fcarce  deferve  notice,  was  it  not  an  evident 
proof  that  the  metallic  communication  with  the  earth 
hath,  in  this  cafe,  effedtually  prevented  any  farther  injury. 
The  condudting  rod  on  the  ridge,  near  the  center  of 
the  houfe,  Shewed  no  marks  of  its  having  been  affected 
by  the  lightning  in  this  cafe : and  it  is  remarkable,  that 
tfte  Surface  of  one  of  the  hip-rafters,  four  inches  and  a 
H h 1.  half 
