[ 1 3 ° ] 
XVII. Remarks on Mr. Brydone’s Account of a remarkable 
Thunder form in Scotland. By the Right Honourable Gharles 
Earl Stanhope, F. R. S. 
Read February 15, 1787 . 
§ 1. O ftorm of lightning has ever produced efFeCts more 
1 . ^ curious to contemplate than thofe related by Mr. 
Brydone, in his Letter to the Prefident of this Society. That 
account contains facts of luch confequence, and fo perfectly 
inexplicable by the principles of electricity which are com- 
monly received, that it undoubtedly deferves particular atten- 
tion. 
It appears, that a man (named “ James Lauder”) fitting 
on the fore-part of a cart drawn by two horfes,. was luddenly 
{truck dead, as alfo the horfes that he was driving, and that 
the cart itfelf was much injured by electrical lire, although no' 
lightning fell at, or near, the place where this accident hap- 
§ 2. Before I attempt to account, by the laws- of electricity, 
for this remarkable phenomenon, it may not be improper juft 
to take notice, that few fadts of this kind have ever been 
better authenticated than this is. 
It appears, firft, that a man, who was fitting upon the fore- 
part of another cart, only twenty-four yards behind the cart 
that was {truck, u Tad Lauder, his cart and horfes, full ini 
“ view when they fell ; he was ftnnned by a loud report, and 
“ faw his companion, his horfes and cart, fall to the ground ; 
“ lie 
