Chap. XIII The Identity of Electricity With Lightning
The identity of the electric matter with lightning is a discovery, which has been of more use than any other in electricity.
That the effects of this fluid bore a great resemblance to those of lightning, had been several times remarked by philosophers and especially by the Abbè Nollet; but that they should be found to be effects of the same cause, and that the phenomena of electricity could be imitated by lightning, or those of lightning by electricity, was not suspected, till our countryman Dr. Franklin made the assertion in 1750, and afterwards demonstrated its truth by undeniable experiment in 1752.
This discovery is almost the only one in the whole science which has not been the result of accident.
The Doctor had for a long time observed the effects of pointed bodies in drawing off the electric matter more powerfully than could be done by others.—Improving upon this, he supposed that pointed iron rods, raised to a considerable height in the air, when the atmosphere was loaded with lightning, might “draw off the matter of the thunder-bolt, without noise or danger.” As he was waiting for the erection of a spire in Philadelphia, that he might have an opportunity of ascertaining the correctness of his hypothesis, it occurred to him, that, by means of a common kite, he could have a readier access to the higher regions of the atmosphere than in any other way. Preparing therefore a large silk handkerchief, and two cross sticks upon which he might easily extend it, he took the opportunity of the first approaching thunder storm to walk into a field, where there was a shed convenient for his purpose; but, dreading the ridicule which too commonly attends unsuccessful attempts in science, he communicated his design to no one but his son, who assisted him in preparing and raising the kite.
A considerable time elapsed before there was any appearance of success: one very considerable cloud had passed over the kite without any effect; when, just as he was beginning to despair, he observed some loose threads of the hempen string to stand erect, and avoid one another just as if they had been suspended from the prime conductor of an electrical machine. On this he presented his knuckle to a key which was fastened to the string, and received a spark. Others succeeded even before the string was wet; but when the rain began to fall he collected the electrical fire very copiously.
He afterwards had an insulated iron rod, to draw lightning into his house, and performed almost every experiment with real lightning, that he had before made with electricity collected by a machine. Thus a new field was opened for the philosophy of electricity.