and a great expanse of the heavens often appears in an almost continuous blaze of light; the thunder at first rumbling in the distance, now approaches with various roaring and rattling sounds, and the rain often falls in

torrents.

"If we watch a severe thunder-storm from the beginning to the end, we observe a singular variety in the appearance of the flashes; the scene is sometimes rendered awfully magnificent, by their brilliancy, frequency, and extent, darting sometimes in broad, well-defined lines from cloud to cloud, and sometimes shooting towards the earth, they are often zigzag and irregular, and sometimes are said to appear as a large and rapidlymoving ball of fire, an appearance usually designated by the uninformed, 'a thunderbolt,' and erroneously supposed to be attended by the fall of a solid body."

Thus the nodular masses that are so frequently found on the sea beach, at the foot of chalk cliffs, are called "thunderbolts," yet they have not fallen from the heavens, but from the cliffs, and when chemically examined, are found composed of sulphur and iron; they are "sulphurets of iron," therefore, and if two masses be violently struck against each other, sparks of fire appear, in consequence of the heat of the blow or collision having enabled both elements to attract oxygen from the air and burn; thus fire was anciently obtained, and the name of "pyrites," or "fire-stone," was likewise conferred. upon the supposed "thunderbolt." But let us continue our investigation of the "thunder-storm."

"The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth: The Lord is upon many

waters."

"The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty."

In such sublime and rapturous exhortation to the princes of the earth, does the Psalmist set forth the glory of the Omnipotent Ruler of the storm; and regarding its awful and astounding grandeur, no man can either feel, or feign indifference; yet he does well, that instead of indulging in morbid fear, and of communicating it to others, endeavors to calm such emotions, by reflecting and expounding that the will of God directs the storm, to remind us of our insignificance, which, in the pride of our knowledge, and the height of our abundance, we are but too prone to forget.

It is, however, the imperative duty of every man to exercise his utmost reasoning and inventive faculties for guarding his life, and the lives of others, against the physical power of the lightning, and not with impiety and presumption to defy the storm.

In the open air, shelter should not be sought immediately under a tree or building, for should they be struck, such a situation is particularly dangerous, if not fatal; the distance of twenty or thirty feet from tall trees, or lofty buildings, is, on the contrary, an eligible situation; for should a discharge take place, these prominent bodies are most likely to receive it, and the less elevated bodies in their vicinity may therefore escape uninjured.

It is quite essential, during a thunder-storm, to avoid every considerable mass of water, and even the streamlets that may have resulted from a recent shower; for these are all excellent conductors, and the height of a human being when near them, might probably determine the discharge of lightning; shelter under the arch of a bridge is a comparatively safe situation.

The conductors and imperfect conductors through which lightning directs its course when it strikes a building, are generally the metallic appendages of the walls and partitions; the most secure situation is therefore in the middle of the room, especially when standing on a hair mattress, or even a thick hearth-rug; and if a bed be drawn into the middle of the room, it will afford perhaps the safest of all situations.

The part of every building least likely to receive injury is the middle story, as the lightning does not always pass from the clouds to the earth, but occasionally from the earth to the clouds, a phenomenon called the "returning stroke;" hence it is useless to take refuge in the lowest story or in a cellar.

Many instances are recorded in which the basement story has been the only part of a building that has sustained severe injury, the lightning being weakened as it ascended.

Whatever situation be chosen, any approach to the fire-place is most dangerous; for the heated air, or even the soot in the chimney, are conductors sufficiently good to determine the course of the lightning flash, especially as they are in immediate connection with the excellent conducting iron work of the grate, fender, and fire-irons; the same caution is necessary with respect to gilt furniture, bell-wires, and moderately extensive metallic surfaces of every description.

It is likewise exceedingly dangerous to approach a window for the purpose of closing its shutters, if they have large iron bars or bolts for fastenings; an instance is known of a shock having been suddenly experienced by a female endeavoring to bar a window during a severe discharge of lightning; the effect lasted a considerable

time, but fortunately did not prove fatal. In a carriage, the precaution of keeping at some inches distance from its sides or back is also advisable.

These particulars have been enumerated from a desire "to supply what useful information the present state of our knowledge may afford, and to diminish that anxiety and fear by which the minds of many are oppressed during the occurrence of these magnificent but awful phenomena."

The operation of mysterious agents has always considerable effect on the human mind; and by raising a host of unreal terrors, may suspend the action of its best energies; but when we are enabled to ascertain something regarding the nature and influence of the powers which surround us, we are prepared to meet their effects with feelings equally remote from vain confidence and useless fear; and are thus enabled to avoid their dangers effectually and without agitation.

"Where persons have been killed by lightning, it has generally come upon them so suddenly as to leave no time for precaution; though it must also be admitted that some have suffered from foolishly ridiculing the idea. of danger, and wantonly exposing themselves to the storm, walking out to admire its grandeur, or insisting upon opening the windows to look out and observe it, or standing under a tree for shelter.

"A severe thunder-storm is always an awful and dangerous phenomenon; and while, on the one hand, it is the extreme of folly to neglect common precaution, or to ridicule those that are alarmed, it is, on the other, equally weak to give way to unfounded apprehension."

As the important discovery of Oxygen was made by the employment of the simple form of a "bird-fountain,'

so the astonishing discovery of the identity of lightning with electricity was made by the use of the still more simple means of a common kite; and it likewise proves that men must condescend to attend to the most ordinary things if they would acquire knowledge, for the design of philosophy is "not to build a capital, or erect a pyramid, to the glory of man, but to found the temple of the universe in the human intellect."

At a very early period of the Science of Electricity, experiment had shown that electricity is attracted by points, and if highly excited, it discharges itself with a flash and report; lightning and thunder exhibited an example of a flash and report ;-the atmosphere was known to be susceptible of electrical influence;-all this had been ascertained, but no relation had been established between the cases;-other causes might possibly produce a flash and report ;-but the analogy of electricity presented itself strongly to the mind of a true philosopher, who reasoned thus:-"The electric fluid is attracted by points; we do not know whether this property be in lightning, but since they agree, in all particulars in which we can already compare them, it is not improbable that they agree likewise in this."

"Let the experiment be made."

He made the experiment, by attaching a pointed wire to the stick of a kite, and upon elevating it in the air during a thunder-storm, as the string became wetted with rain, it conducted electricity from the clouds, which on its arrival at the ground was regularly discharged with vivid sparks, and sharp reports, and the analogy converted into an identity.

This great philosopher was overcome with emotions of awe, at the wonderful discovery that the Almighty had