Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-20


ORIGINAL LETTER OF DR.. FRANKLIN.
The following letter was brought to light by the
London correspondent Of the Boston Post. In com.
muncang it to that Journal he says: "It is copied YER
batm, ct literatm, spelling, punctuation, capitals and
all-and as near fac sime as my writing could make
it-just as it stands in the original have reason to
| suppose it has never before been published"
PHILADELPHIA, March l, 1855.
Sir--l am but Just returned from long Journey, af-
Ter near Months Absence, and find your Fav. of
Sept. %, by which have the agreeable Advice that
you expect 10 be able to remit something in Smith,
A fairs very soon.
AS to the Thickness Of Wire necessary or sufficient
to conduct large Quantity OF Lightning. concerning
which you desire my Sentiments you will find some
thing on that Head, in ages 1874 and 1885, of the en-
elos'd Pamphlet, which please to accept. And may
add, that in my late Journey saw an Instance of
very great Quantity Of Lightning conducted by Wire
no bigger than common knitting Needle. 1t was at
Newbury, in New England, where The Spire of the
Church sieepe being 20 foot in height above the Bery
was split all TO pieces aud thrown about the Street in
fragment; from the Bell down to the Clock PLACID in
the Sleeple 20 feet below the Bell there was the small
Wire above mentioned which communicated the Mo
ton OF the Clock to the Hammer striking the Hour Oh
the Bell. As far as the wire extended, no Part OF the
Steepie was hurt by the Lightning, nor low the Clock
as far as the Pendulum Rod reached; but from the end
OF the Rod, downwards the Lightning rent the Steepe
surprisingly. The Pendulum Rod W about the thick
ness OF small Tobacco Pipe Stem, and conducted the
whole without damage to its own Substance, except
uiat Nefe LigH1iilI was all accumulated,
it appeared melted as much as made small Drop But
the Clock wire was blown ali to smoke, and snutted The
church wall which passed broad black Track and
also the Cleing under which it was carried HORIZONTALLY
No more OF was lett than about an Inch and hal next
the lall OF the Hammer, and as much Joining TO the
Clock. Yet this is observable that tho it was 90 small as
not to be sufficient to conduct the Quantity with Safety
TO lis own Substance, yet did conduct SO as to secure
all that Part OF the Building. Excuse this Scrawl,
which have not time to copy fair.
am, with much Respect, Sir,
Your very humble Servant
B. FRANKLIN.
?. S. have just been reading similar instance
taken from the Journal des Scavans for 1876 page Tx
VIZ En- 1915 lie tonneie lie clocker de Abbaqe
d SANS Medard de Sossons la fondre So ports nue.
gfande Distance lie long des ills d'ascha qu communi.
Suoent lhoroge; ellie fondit ces cordes metal oues
sans alre dautres describes dams tout lie traiet"
Two DuELLHrs.-The Chronicle of Western Litera
ture tells the following story of certain Colonel IT
may be old, but it is good:
The Colonel, during short soiourn in Vicksburg
met there some hot-blooded Souiherner with spirit
as fiery as his own. They quarreed-a challenge
passed and accepted, and the next rising sun was
ed in blood TO wash ont wounded honor During the
night the Colonel said he heard boat coming up the
river, and it struck him he heard the boat puffiuo
and blowing that prudence the better part of va
lor." So he took his trunk upon his shoulder. and
stepped in the dead of the night very quietly out of the
hote as he neared the boat, whom should he see
but his antagonist at the boat before him. Just going
aboard.
He returned as he had gone out; and was on the
ground next morning with his second waiting with
disappointed wrath for his antagonist and published
him as an absconding scoupdreI