from  Lightning  at  Purfleet.  242? 
It  is  with  very  great  concern,  that  I am  obliged  to 
take  notice,  in  this  Society,  of  a houfe,  which  is  of  the 
firffc  confequence  in  this  kingdom,  that  hath  pointed  con- 
ductors alfo  fixed  upon  it:  I mean  the  KING’S,  our  raoft 
gracious  Patron  and  Benefactor’s.  Who  were  the  advifers 
of  them  I know  not;  but  as  they  are  there,  I thought  it 
my  duty  to  mention  them. 
In  confidering  the  propriety  of  pointed  conductors,  I 
think  it  necelfary  to  obferve,  that  increafing  the  number 
of  them  in  any  given  fpace  does  not  by  any  means,  in 
my  opinion,  leflen  the  rifque  of  accidents  by  lightning; 
but  on  the  contrary  (at  leafl  in  many  cafes)  a greater 
number  of  fuch  conductors  will  neceflarily  invite  a 
larger  quantity  of  lightning.  At  Purfleet  there  are  fe- 
veral  of  thofe  conductors;  and  by  the  ftorekeeper’s  letter 
fent  to  the  Board  of  Ordnance,  which  was  lately  read  be- 
fore us,  it  appears,  that  he  himfelf  obferved  a very  heavy 
cloud  hanging  over  the  houfe  for  fome  time  before  the 
ftroke  happened. 
According  to  Dr.  fr  anklin’s  idea,  this  event  ought 
never  to  have  happened;  becaufe  he  fays,  that  pointed 
conduCtoYs  will  draw  all  the  lightning  out  of  the  clouds, 
and  carry  it  away  into  the  earth  filently. 
This  philofophy  I never  had  any  faith  in,  unlefs  the 
quantity  of  lightning  contained  in  the  clouds  happens  to 
he 
