Experiments in Electricity. 46 1 
frame, they revolve over another cloud, which is intro- 
duced in the place of the middle houfe : all the houfes 
being taken away through this cloud, the water in the 
infulated veflel is made to pafs and to defcend in a ftream. 
When a ball is interpofed between this cloud and the 
revolving ones, there will be frequent flafties upon it; 
but when, inftead of a ball, a point is put there, the elec- 
tric matter pafles off gradually and filently without any 
flafh. 
Thus, sir, I humbly apprehend, the whole current 
of thefe experiments tends to drew the preference of 
points to balls, in order to diminish and draw off the 
eleCtric matter when excited, or to prevent it from accu- 
mulating; and confequently the propriety or even necef- 
fity of terminating all conductors with points, to make 
them ufeful to prevent damage to buildings from light- 
ning. Nay the very conftruCtion of all electrical ma- 
chines, in which it is neceflary to round all the parts, and 
to avoid making edges and points which would hinder 
the matter from being excited, will, I imagine, on reflec- 
tion, be another corroborating proof of the refult of the 
experiment themfelves. 
I am, 8cu 
Vol. LXIX. 
P P P 
