154 
Mr. Baldwin raised an electrical kite in July/ lj^ly durin S the a PP roach 
of a severe thunder storm, and observed himself to be surrounded by a rare 
medium of fire, which, as the cloud rose nearer the zenith, and the kite got 
higher, continued to extend itself with some gentle faint flashes. Mr. Baldwin 
felt no other effect than a general weakness in his joints and limbs, and a kind 
of listless feeling; all which, he observes, might possibly be the effect of 
surprise, though it was sufficient to discourage him from persisting in any 
farther attempt at that time. He therefore drew in the kite, and retired to a 
shop till the storm was over, and then went to his house, where he found his 
parents and friends much more surprised than he had been himself; who, 
after expressing their astonishment, informed him, that he appeared to them, 
(during the time he was raising the kite) to be in the midst of a large bright 
flame of fire, attended with flashings; and that they expected every moment 
to see him fall a sacrifice to the flame.* 
Having succeeded so completely with his electrical kite, Dr. Franklin 
determined to persevere in his observations. He accordingly erected an 
insulated iron rod,F on purpose to draw the lightning into his house, to make 
experiments whenever there should be a considerable quantity of it in the 
atmosphere; and, that he might not lose any opportunity of that nature, he 
* Professor Richman of Petersburgh, afterwards as he was pursuing these experiments (so happily 
begun by Dr, Franklin) was struck dead in the midst of his family. 
Nymphs! on that day ye shed from lucid eyes 
Celestial tears, and breathed ethereal sighs! 
When Richman rear’d, by fearless haste betray’d. 
The wiry rod in Nieva’s fatal shade;— 
Clouds o’er the sage, with fringed skirts succeed, 
Flash follows flash, the warning corks recede. 
Near and more near he ey’d with fond amaze 
The silver stream, and watch’d the sapphire blaze; 
Then bursts the steel, the dart electric sped. 
And the bold sage lay number’d with, the dead! 
Darwin. 
f This discovery, although it seemed to the ignorant and superficial to be only a matter of curiosity 
and surprise, was attended with consequences highly beneficial to the human race. The grand prac¬ 
tical use which our author converted it to, was, to prevent buildings from being damaged by lightning. 
This he accomplished by fixing a metallic rod higher than any part of the edifice, and contriving it in 
such a manner as to communicate with the earth, or rather with the nearest water. The lio-htnino' 
* to to 
was sure to seize upon the rod, preferably to any other part of the building, and that dangerous 
element, instead of committing its usual ‘destruction, was harmlessly brought in contact with the 
ground, without doing any mischief whatever. 
