on of the clouds. Even in this uncertain state, passion to be useful to mankind displays itself powerful manner. Admitting the identity of tricity and lightning, and knowing the power oints in repelling bodies charged with electricity, in conducting their fire silently and impercepti he suggests the idea of securing houses, ships, from being damaged by lightning, by erecting ted iron rods, which should rise some feet above most elevated part, and descend some feet into ground or the water. The effect of these, he cluded, would be either to prevent a stroke by lling the cloud beyond the striking distance, or rawing off the electrical fire which it contained; If they could not effect this, they would at least luct the stroke to the earth, without any injury te building. was not until the summer of 1752, that he was led to complete his grand and unparalleled discoby experiment. The plan which he had origi proposed, was, to erect on some high tower, ther elevated place, a centry-box, from which ald rise a pointed iron rod, insulated by being din a cake of rosin. Electrified clouds passover this, would, he conceived, impart to it a porof their electricity, which would be rendered lent to the senses by sparks being emitted, n a key, a knuckle, or other conductor, was sented to it. Philadelphia at this time afforded opportunity of trying an experiment of this kind. ilst Franklin was waiting for the erection of a e, it occurred to him, that he might have more ly access to the region of clouds by means of a right stick was move towa to the de Ab ous F ABUL QUILA; WM QI QULAYU MEJEDn pusin, as usual, of hemp, except the lower end, which was silk, Where the hempen string was terminated a key was fastened. With this apparatus, on the appearance of a thunder-gust approaching, he wen out into the commons, accompanied by his son, to whom alone he communicated his intentions, wel knowing the ridicule which, too generally for the interest of science, awaits unsuccessful experiments in philosophy. He placed himself under a shed to avoid the rain. His kite was raised. A thunder cloud passed over it. No sign of electricity appear ed. He almost despaired of success; when sud denly he observed the loose fibres of his string to move towards an erect position. He now presented his knuckle to the key, and received a strong spark. How exquisite must his sensations have been at this moment! On this experiment depended the fate of his theory. If he succeeded, his name would rank high amongst those who have improved science; if he failed, he must inevitably be subjected to the derision of mankind, or, what is worse, their pity, as a well meaning man, but a weak, silly pro jector. The anxiety with which he looked for the result of his experiment, may easily be conceived Doubts and despair had begun to prevail, when the fact was ascertained in so clear a manner, that even the most incredulous could no longer withhold their assent. Repeated sparks were drawn from the key a vial was charged, a shock given, and all the ex periments made, which are usually performed with electricity. About a month before this period, some ingeni ous Frenchmen had completed the discovery, in ers of the Royal Society of London. A Howr this may be, Collinson published them in a sete volume, under the title of New Experiments Observations on Electricity, made at Philadel in America. They were read with avidity, soon translated into different languages. y incorrect French translation fell into the hands he celebrated Buffon, who, notwithstanding the advantages under which the work labored, was ch pleased with it, and repeated the experiments h success. He prevailed upon his friend, M. Alibard, to give his countrymen a more correct islation of the American electrician. This conuted much towards spreading a knowledge of inklin's principles in France. The King, Louis 7. hearing of these experiments, expressed a wish e a spectator of them. A course of experiments s given at the seat of the Duc D'Ayen, at St. rmain, by M. De Lor. The applauses which King bestowed upon Franklin, excited in Buf, D'Alibard, and De Lor, an earnest desire of ertaining the truth of his theory of thunder gusts. ffon erected his apparatus on the tower of Mont, M. D'Alibard at Mary-la-ville, and De Lor at house in the Estrapade at Paris, some of the hest ground in that capital. D'Alibard's mane first shewed signs of electricity. On the 10th May, 1752, a thunder-cloud passed over it, in absence of M. D'Alibard; and a number of rks were drawn from it by Coissier, a joiner, h whom D'Alibard had left directions how to oceed, and by Mr. Raulet, the prior of Mary-lae. An account of this experiment was given to Royal Academy of Sciences, in a memoir by discoveries so parts of Europ of knowledg The friends had sugg and elect true, tha it out as of ascert ledges, thought means larity o parts of Europe to repeat the experiment. Amongs these, none signalized themselves more than Father Beccaria of Turin, to whose observations science is much indebted. Even the cold regions of Russia were penetrated by the ardor for discovery. Pro -fessor Richman bade fair to add much to the stock of knowledge on this subject, when an unfortunate flash from his rod put a period to his existence.The friends of science will long remember with regret the amiable martyr to electricity. By these experiments Franklin's theory was esta blished in the most firm manner. When the truth of it could no longer be doubted, the vanity of mẹn endeavored to detract from its merit. That an American, an inhabitant of the obscure city of Philadelphia, the name of which was hardly known, should be able to make discoveries, and frame theories, which had escaped the notice of the enlightened philosophers of Europe was too, mortifying to be admitted. He must certainly have taken the idea from somebody else. An American, a being of an inferior order, make discoveries! Impossible. It was said, that the Abbe Nollet, in 1748, had suggested the idea of the similarity of lightning and electricity, in his Lecons de Physique. It is true, that the Abbe mentions the idea, but he throws it out as a bare conjecture, and proposes no mode of ascertaining the truth of it. He himself acknowledges, that Franklin first entertained the bold thought of bringing lightning from the heavens, by means of pointed rods fixed in the air. The similarity of electricity and lightning is so strong, that K we need not be surprised at notice being taken of it, as soon as electrical phenomena became familiar. We find it mentioned by Dr. Wall and Mr. Grey, while the science was in its infancy. But the honor of forming a regular theory of thunder-gusts, of suggesting a mode of determining the truth of it by experiments, and of putting these experiments in practice, and thus establishing his theory upon a firm and solid basis, is incontestibly due to Franklin. D'Alibard, who made the experiments in France, says, that he only followed the track which Franklin had pointed out. 1. has been of late asserted, that the honor of completing the experiment with an electrical kite, does not belong to Franklin. Some late English paragraphs have attributed it to sume Frenchman, whose name they did not mention; and the Abbe Bertholon gives it to Mr. De Romas, assessor to the president of Nerac; the English paragraphs probably refer to the same person. But a very slight attention will convince us of the injustice of this procedure: Dr. Franklin's experiment was made in June 1752; and his letter, giving an ac count of it, is dated October 19, 1752; M. De Romas made his first attempt on the 14th of May 1753, but was not successful until the 7th of June; a year after Frankiin had completed the discovery, and when it was known to all the philosophers in Europe. Besides these great principles, Franklin's letters on electricity contam a number of facts and hints, which have contributed greatly towards reducing this branch of knowledge to a science. His friend, Mr. Kinnersly, communicated to him a discovery of the different kinds of clectricity excited by rubbing glass and sulphur. This, we have said, was first |