^0 Mr . Bennet’s 'Defcription of 
In very clear weather, when no clouds were vifible, the 
electrometer has been often applied to the infulated firing 
of kites without metal, and their pofitive electricity caufed the 
leaf gold to ftrike the fides; but when a kite was raifed in 
cloudy weather, with a wire in the firing, and when it gave 
fparks about a quarter of an inch long, the electricity was 
fenfibie by the electrometer at the diftance of ten yards or 
more from the firing ; but, when placed at the diltance of fix 
feet, the leaf gold continued to ftrike the fides of the electro- 
meter, for more than an hour together, with a velocity in- 
creating and decreafing with the denfity or diftance of the 
unequal clouds which paffed over. 
Sometimes the eleCtricity of an approaching cloud has been 
fenfibie without a kite, though in a very unfavourable fituation 
for it, being in a town furrounded with hills, and where 
buildings encompafled the wall on which the electrometer was 
placed. A thunder cloud paffing over, caufed the leaf gold to 
ftrike the fides of the glafs very quick at each flalh of lightning. 
No fenfibie eleCtricity is produced by blowing pure air, pro- 
jecting water, byfmoke, flame, or explofions of gunpowder. 
A book was placed upon the cap, and ftruck with filk, linen, 
woollen, cotton, parchment, and paper, all which produced 
negative repultion ; but when the other fide of the book was 
ftruck with filk, it became pofitive ; this fide, ftruck at right 
angles with the former, was again negative ; and, by con- 
tinuing the ftrokes which produced pofitive, it changed to ne- 
gative, for a little while ; and, by flopping again, became 
pofitive. No other book would do the fame, though the fides 
were fcraped unchalked, upon a fuppofition that altering the 
lurface would produce it. At laft, one fide of a book was 
moiftened, which changed it ; fo I concluded, that one edge 
i of 
