Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818 edition. Excerpt: ... ous a voyage, but to take the advice of your friends, and "stay in Franconia." I have the honor to be, sir, &c. B. Franklin. Before we return to political occurrences, as connected with the memoirs of Dr. Franklin, we have to notice an attempt that was made in 1777, to detract, if not to annul, the great discovery of the American philosopher, for the protection of buildings and ships from the effects of lightning. Mr. B. Wilson, F.R.S., who had formerly, at a meeting of the Royal Society, protested unsuccessfully against the pointed conductors of Franklin, now endeavored, by certain experiments, publicly exhibited at the Pantheon, to prove the superior advantage of knobs to points, or the greater safety to be derived from blunt to sharp lightning conductors. These experiments, it is said, were much countenanced by the king, who attended them, with some of the royal family; but their fallacy was soon discovered, as appears by the following article on the subject, in the London Evening Post of the 16th Sept. 1777. "Monday, Mr. B. Wilson repeated his experiments at the Pantheon, before several fellows of the Royal Society, and other persons. Lord Viscount Malum,1 F.R.S. being present, had a great dispute with Mr. Wilson concerning his experi 1 The late Lord Stanhope. (1818.) ments, and showed him that he was wrong in both his assertions: first, that knobs are better than points; and secondly, that low conductors are better than high ones. His lordship proved both these assertions to be false, and showed also that Mr. Wilson had entirely misunderstood, and had consequently misrepresented the philosophical opinions of Dr. Franklin. Lord jviabon repeated several experiments of his own to prove his assertions; and by invariably succeeding in...
