The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-26 00:00:00

LIGHTNING:

A few evenings ago a paper on lightning-con-
ductors, in connexion with the acof,dent at Brixton
church, wa's read at the meetink of the London Eke-
trical Society. - Its author, Mr. Waller, the Secretary
of the Society, had made a survey of the damage
done to the tower of Brixtot•ehurai, and found in
it so practical an illustration . of • Dr. Faradays
opinion on the "literal disehare," as to induce
him
.to investigate the subject more closely.
It seems that no arrangement .of.metals could have
been better adapted than that met with in this steeple
to invite a. flash of lightning to do mischief. There
was a regular series of stepping-stones, as it were—
first, an insulated metallic cross, then 20 feet of stone-
work : in passing this interval the roof of the lantern •
was shattered. Then came 20 or 30 feet of conductor
in the form of the clock wire, and a water pipe; and
then a break of twelve feet. ;Here, again, was an
explosion, and an immense mass of masonry Was
shattered away from the base of a column interven-
ing between the termination of the'lvater pipe and the
commencement of the next series of conductors. Within
the belfry "a lateral discharge" took place; the fluid
passed from one conductor to a victual one for no other
reason than to obtain a wider path. The author showed
that electricity not only chooses a short but also a
wider path ; and that the " lateral spark" arises from
the latter property. lie then Pxplamed that it is not
enough to have a continuous or an insulated lightning
rod ; but it is most important to have it far away from
other metalic bodies ; for however -capaciOus the rod
may be, and however adapted to convey, not only what
passes down it, but ten thousand tunes more, yet,
if another conductor is near, a flash will pass between
the two, and ignition of neighbotiring combustibleo
will be the result. Fortunately, in the case in question,
only a small part of the whole fluid passed within the
tower, consequently the lateral explosion was not se-
vere. As it is nut always possible to place lightning
rods entirely out of the neighbiinrhood of other con-
ductors, Mr. Walker showed that the possibility of
the fluid's passing between them should then be con- •
verted into a certainty by making :metallic commu-
nication between them, and thus tracing out a
path along which the fluid might • pass without
the developement of light and heat. 'lie spoke of the
peculiar property of the points of leaves, twigs, &c.,
in drawing off quietly charges of. electricity, and
stated his conviction that tall trees 4 would always
found valuable. if not in entireli- averting, at least in
greatly mitigating the force of a lightning shock.
The theoretical opinions given in this communication
were based upon the expernnents of the. Royal insti•
tr grand scale
gene-
rally e
tution, the object of the author being to show how
closely they f
uatnrc, and c
tlov edrier e
ci ltittihs te n (f
r aatteed tlte .
ti
en
to a closer study of the properties of lightnin..-
rods, a subject on which, perhaps more than on any
other practical point, more ,norance prevails than
can be well conceived.

A letter from Antwerp, May 20, states that the
English steamer, the Rainbow, arrived
.that morning from
London, having GO passengers on board, Comprising those Of
the Soho, which had gone aground at the Caloot. It was at
first supposed that she would float with the tide, but. a letter
from Flushing states that at four o'cloil on the morning of
Saturday she was still aground.
The St. Petersburg journals announce that the fan'
peror of Russia has appointed Duke Maximilian of Leitiaisten-_
berg to the command of the first brigade of the kit division of
j the light Cavalry of the Guard.

Sir F. BURDETI: gave notice that he would on
an early day move for an inquiry into Captain War-
nf...r's invention; also that he would renew his motion
relative to a monument to Sir Sydney Smith.
SLAVE TRADE.

Sir G. CLERK gave notice that he would on Fri-
day move for leave to bring in a Bill respecting cer-
tain treaties and conventions with Foreign States for
the suppression of the slave trade.
PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENT.

Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to ask his Right lion.
Friend the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment what were the intentions of the Government
on the subject of the law relating to Parochial As-
sessinent ; and whether they determined merely on
renewing the present enactment, or whether they
meant to introduce a general measure for the settle-
went of the whole question ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that he had already stated
to 'the House that he had formed a decided opinion
that the whole subject of the law of voting would be
very speedily brought under the consideration of Par-
liament. lie had not thought it expedient to connect
that question with the discussion of the Poor-law
Amendment Act, which was a subject sufficiently ex-
tensive and difficult in itself. It was his intention
to. propose to Parliament a continuation of the present
law upon the subject of rating, although for a limited,
time.