As regards buildings on land, I may refer to the little province of Schleswig-Holstein, of which I have already spoken to you. From some cause or other this small peninsula is singularly exposed to thunderstorms, and of late years it has been more abundantly provided with lightning conductors than, perhaps, any other district of equal extent in Europe. Now, as a simple illustration of the protection afforded by these lightning conductors, I may mention that, on the 26th of May, 1878, a violent thunderstorm burst over the little town of Utersen. Five several flashes of lightning fell in different parts of the town, but not the slightest harm was done, each flash being safely carried to earth by a lightning conductor. Further, it appears from the records of the fire insurance company that, out of 552 buildings injured by lightning during a period of eight years--from 1870 to 1878--only four had lightning conductors; and in these four cases it was found, on examination, that the lightning conductors were defective.[39] It would be easy to multiply evidence on this subject. But as I have already trespassed, I fear, too far on your patience, I will content myself with saying, in conclusion, that according to all the highest authorities, both practical and theoretical, any structure provided with a lightning conductor properly fitted up in conformity with the principles I have set before you to-day is perfectly secure against lightning. The lightning, indeed, may fall upon it, but it will pass harmless to the earth; and the experience of more than a hundred years has fully justified the simple and modest words of the great inventor of lightning conductors: “It has pleased God, in His goodness to mankind, at length to discover to them the means of securing their habitations and other buildings from mischief by thunder and lightning.” NOTE I. ON THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR AT BEREHAVEN.[40] It is satisfactory to know that the lightning conductor referred to in my lecture as attached to the lighthouse at Berehaven has been put in good order under the best scientific guidance. The following interesting letter from Professor Tyndall, which appeared in the _Times_, August 31, 1887, gives the history of the matter very clearly, and fully bears out the views put forward in my lecture: