and on the Effects of Lightning on certain Ships, 415 
48. Exceptions, however, have been taken by Mr. Sturgeon 
to the phaenomena described by the officers who either com- 
manded or were in the ships. Thus Captain Turner, in de- 
scribing the shock of lightning which fell on the Dryad fri- 
gate on the coast of Africa, says, that he saw the lightning 
on the conductor on the fore-mast, and saw it during another 
flash run down the mizen-mast ; that all the men there heard 
a loud whizzing noise.’^ Captain Fitzroy and Lieut. Sullivan 
also mention similar phaenomena. Now the exceptions taken 
are these, viz. that no noise is ever produced by electricity 
entering a conductor, and that we cannot produce a “ run- 
ning light” upon a conductor carrying an electrical charge. 
These exceptions, however, are rather captious objections 
to forms of expression, than -to the facts themselves ; it is easy 
to show from experience that luminous appearances are often 
attendant on discharges of both natural and artificial electri- 
city. 
Thus in the case of the Hawk (No. 9.) the account states 
that “ the vessel was apparently enveloped in a flame of light- 
ning ; ” whilst in the case of the Beagle, Lieut. Sullivan 
says, “ on looking aloft the ship was apparently in a blaze of 
fire.” In the case of the Snake (No. 3.) the electric fluid is 
said to have descended v/ith an instantaneous explosion of a 
vivid purple colour. 
When H.M. ship Norge was struck by lightning in 
Port Royal harbour, the electric fluid was observed (to use 
Admiral Rodd’s expression) to ‘‘ absolutely stream down a 
conductor attached to the mast of H.M. ship Warrior,” 
close by. 
Such phaenomena are besides remarkably close to the re- 
sults of experiments : thus a heavy shock of electricity, passed 
over a metallic wire in a partially exhausted receiver, will ex- 
hibit a transiently passing light on its surface. 
49. The whizzing noise is quite in accordance with common 
electrical effects. It invariably occurs when a good conductor 
receives and disarms an explosion by a pointed extremity. 
Mr. Sturgeon, however, asserts that “ no such noise is ever 
produced by the fluid entering a metallic conductor.” This 
is mere sophistry ; let any one attempt to discharge a highly 
charged battery by an acutely pointed conductor. A great 
part of the charge will immediately rush through or tow^ards 
the point with a whizzing noise. Now the stratum of cloud 
may be either positively or negatively electrified, and whether 
the one or the other, it is clear that the rush of electricity from 
a charged surface toward a point, or from a point towards an 
