[ 6 ! ] 
XIII. An Account of a Thunder -Jlorm in Scotland ; with fome 
Meteorological Obfervations . In a Letter from Patrick 
Brydone, Efq . F . R. S. to Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart . P. R . 
Read January i 8 , 1787. 
DEAR SIR, Lennel-Houfe, near Coldftream, Dec. 20, 1 786- 
1 NOW fit down to give you fome account of the thunder- 
ftorm, which I remember to have mentioned to you in 
converfation, and of which you wifhed to be more particu- 
larly informed. I do not know whether you will think it 
worthy of the attention of the Society; but you will be 
pleafed to make whatever ufe of it you think proper. It is 
copied, with fome additions, from the journal which I ufually 
keep in the country, and which was wrote down immediately 
after the event. 
Tuefday, the 19th of July, 1785, was a fine foft morning 
(thermometer, at ten, 68°) ; about eleven, clouds began to form 
in the fouth-eafi: ; and between twelve and one there were 
feveral flafhes of lightning, followed by rolling claps of thun- 
der, at a confiderable diflance. I was fitting in my ftudy at an 
open window, in the fecond ftory, obferving the progrefs of 
the ftorm ; when fome ladies, who were in the drawing-room be- 
low, alarmed by the lightning, came up to me. I was making 
them obferve, by a flop- watch, the time which the found took 
to reach us (which was generally from 25 to 30 feconds), and 
4 alluring 
