‘In order to remedy this defect, that part of the conductor which enters the ground has been made very long, more than 4 metres [13 feet], and has been provided with a great many couples of points, 5 centimetres [2 inches] broad, 5 millimetres [⅛ inch] thick, indentated on the edges, with the addition of a thick copper wire twisted among the same points, to help to multiply the points of contact between the rod and the carbon. The foot of the lightning conductor is entirely of copper. The rod is also of copper up to a metre [3¼ feet] above the ground; and there is joined to it the iron conductor, in the ordinary receptacle made in the heart of the wall, to preserve it from disturbances of the inferior parts. The ditch into which the foot of the lightning conductor was sunk is 5 metres [·16 feet] long, and half-a-metre [1⅝ feet] wide, and it was dug into the ground as far as to touch the roots of some neighbouring trees, from which point upwards a layer of cinders was placed, covering the greater part of the ditch. Thus the surface of contact between the metal and the carbon, and of the latter with the soil, was such that one would have supposed it to be more than sufficient, while the presence of trees, although they were not very large, made it highly probable that the ground did always contain sufficient moisture. Moreover, as the edifice had two culminating points--namely, the belfry and the raised back portion of the choir--two rods were placed on them, each having an independent connection with the earth, so that, in the case of a discharge on one of the points, the electric force might find two ways in its course towards the earth. ‘These arrangements produced, on the whole, a good result, since, although the edifice was struck at least four times after conductors had been placed on it, it suffered no damage of any kind. Nevertheless a very curious accident, highly interesting as a scientific study, happened on October 2. Early on the morning of this day several flashes of lightning fell down from the clouds during a terrific storm, which lasted over two hours. The belfry was struck at first by weak discharges twice; but the third flash was so appalling in its strength as to terrify the whole town below. The injuries it caused were not great, still they seemed to me to be extremely noteworthy. But before I describe them I must give some necessary details as to place and position of the lightning conductor.