But though these philosophers, and many others, were struck with this similarity between the electric fluid and lightning, they did not think of any method by which their suspicions might be brought to the test of experiment.—This was first proposed by Dr. Franklin in 1750. He had before discovered the effects of pointed bodies in drawing off the electric matter more powerfully than others. This was suggested to him by one Mr. Thomas Hopkinson, who electrified an iron ball of three or four inches diameter, with a needle fastened to it, expecting to draw a stronger spark from the point of it; but was surprised to find little or none. Dr. Franklin, improving on this hint, supposed that pointed rods of iron, fixed in the air when the atmosphere was loaded with lightning, might draw from it the matter of the thunder-bolt, without noise or danger, into the body of the earth. His account of this supposition is given by himself in the following words. “The electric fluid is attracted by points. We do not know whether this property be in lightning; but since they agree in all the particulars in which we can already compare them, it is not improbable that they agree likewise in this; let the experiment be made.” This suspicion of Dr. Franklin was verified in 1752. The most active persons in making the experiments by which it was confirmed, were two French gentlemen, Messrs. Dalibard and Delor. The former prepared his apparatus at Marly la Ville, situated five or six leagues from Paris; the other at his own house, on some of the highest ground in that capital. Mr. Dalibard’s machine consisted of an iron rod forty feet long, the lower extremity of which was brought into a centry-box, where the rain could not come; while on the outside it was fastened to three wooden posts, by long silken strings, defended from the rain. This machine happened to be the first that was favoured with a visit of the etherial fire. Mr. Dalibard himself was not at home; but, in his absence, he had entrusted the care of his apparatus to one Coissier a joiner, who had served fourteen years among the dragoons, and on whose courage and understanding he could depend. This artisan had all the necessary instructions given him; and was desired to call some of his neighbours, particularly the curate of the parish, whenever there should be any appearance of a thunder storm. At length the long expected event arrived. On Wednesday the 10th of May 1752, between two and three in the afternoon, Coissier heard a pretty loud clap of thunder. Immediately he ran to the machine, taking with him a phial furnished with a brass wire; and presenting the wire to the end of the rod, a small spark issued from it, with a snap like that which attends a spark from an electrified conductor. Stronger sparks were afterwards drawn, in the presence of the curate and a number of other people. The curate’s account of them was, that they were of a blue colour, an inch and a half in length, and