XCV. A letter of Benjamin Franklin, Esq; to Mr. Peter Collinson, F. R. S. concerning an electrical kite [ 565 ] The belt time of colle&ing it Mr. Broffard has found to be in the autumn, in fine weather, after great heats. This, then, Sir, is all I can colled o f the ufe, ap­ plication, and preparation of this new remedy for flopping blood. I f the Royal Society fhall find any thing in it worthy their regard, I fhall think myfelf happy in having communicated thefe obfervations. Iam _ i Your moft obedient fervant, Faget, XCV. A L e tte r 0/* Benjamin Franklin, to M r . Peter Collinfon, F. R . S. concerning an ele&rical Kite, Philadelphia, Odt. i , 1752. Read Dec. 21 A S frequent mention is made in the pub- I752* /i lie papers from Europe of the fuccefs o f the Philadelphia experiment for drawing the eledric fire from clouds by means o f pointed rods o f iron ere&ed on high buildings, &c. it may be agreeable to the curious to be informed, that the fame experiment has fucceeded in Philadelphia, tho’ made in a different and more eafy manner, which any one may try, as follows: (' Make a fmall crofs, of two light firips of cedar ; the arms fo long, as to reach to the four corners of a large thin filk handkerchief, when extended: tie the corners of the handkerchief to the extremities o f the crofs > fo you have the body of a kite ; which being D ow nl oa de d fr om h tt ps :/ /r oy al so ci et yp ub li sh in g. or g/ o n 05 A pr il 2 02 1 [ 5 6 6 ] being properly accommodated with a tail, loop, and firing, will rife in the air like thofe made of paper $ but this, being of filk, is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a thunder-gufl without tearing, , T o the top of the upright flick of the crofs is to be fixed a very fharp-pointed wire, rifing a foot or more above the wood. T o the end o f the twine, next the hand, is to be tiecUa filk riband ; and where the twine and filkjqin, a key may be fatten'd. T he kite is to be raifed, when a thunder-gufl ap­ pears to be coming on, (which is very frequent in this country) and the perfon, who holds the firing, -mufl Hand within a door, or window, or under fome cover, fo that the filk:riband may not be w e t; and care mufl be taken, that the twine does not touch the frame o f the door or window. As foon a s any o f the thunder-clouds come over the kite, the pointed wire will draw the eledric fire from them ; and the kite, with all the twine, will be eledtrified; and the loofe filaments o f the twine will fland out every way, and be attracted by an ap­ proaching finger. W hen the rain has wet the kite and twine, fo that it can condudt the ele&ric fire freely, you will find it flream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle. At this key the phial may be charged; and from eledtric fire thus obtain’d fpirits may be kindled, and all the other ele&rical experiments be performed, which are ufually done by the help of a rubbed glafs globe or tube, and thereby the famenefs of the elec­ tric D ow nl oa de d fr om h tt ps :/ /r oy al so ci et yp ub li sh in g. or g/ o n 05 A pr il 2 02 1 [ S 6 7 : 3 > trie matter with that of lightning completely demon- ftrated. I was pleafed to hear of the fuccefs of my experi­ ments in France, and that they there begin to ere# points upon their buildings. W e had before placed them upon our academy and ftate-houfe fpires. XCVI. A L e tte r o f M r . W. Watfon, R R. S. to the Royal Society, concerning the eleElri- cal Experiments in England upon Thunder­ clouds* T o the Royal Society. Gentlemen, Read Dec. 21, A FTER. the communications, which 5 we have received from feveral of our correfpondents in different parts of the continent, acquainting us with the fuccefs of their experiments laft fummer, in endeavouring to extra# the ele#ricity from the atmofphere during a thunder-ftorm, in con- fequence of Mr. Franklin’s hypothefis, it may be thought extraordinary, that no accounts have been yet laid before you, o f our fuccefs here from the fame experiments. T hat no want o f attention, therefore, may be attributed to thofe here, who have been hi­ therto converfant in thefe inquiries, I thought pro­ per to apprife you, that, though feveral members o f the Royal Society, as well as myfelf, did, upon the firft advices from France, prepare and fet up the ne- ceffary apparatus for this purpofe, we were defeated in our expectations, from the uncommon coolnefs and dampnefs D ow nl oa de d fr om h tt ps :/ /r oy al so ci et yp ub li sh in g. or g/ o n 05 A pr il 2 02 1