the discharge falls some part of the conductor may be near to receive it. Nothing is to be gained by making the points large and high, the effective height is the height above the ground and a few feet more makes little difference. It is much more desirable that the points be numerous, as the discharging power of a single point is not very great. Hence it has been suggested that

a plentiful supply of barbed fence-wire along all the ridges, gables and eaves would make an admirable sky terminal. In repairing the Washington monument after the damage referred to, metal bands with numerous projecting points were placed round the top every few feet and connected at many points with the elevator shaft.

When the flash has reached the conductor it must be carried to the ground with as little disturbance as possible. This does not mean that the conductor must be a very large copper wire or rod as was taken for granted when it was believed that great electrical resistance was the only condition which could cause a flash to leave a conductor after once reaching it. The passage of a sudden current like that of lightning is opposed by something much less easily eliminated than resistance. In fact experiments show that in some cases a side-flash occurs more readily from a stout copper rod than from a thin iron wire whose resistance is many times as great. The same property of electricity, self-induction, which causes a flash to divide while passing through the air tends to prevent the passage of a whole flash through a single conductor. In preventing side-flashes then a large rod has no advantage over a smaller one, and copper is no better than iron. The one effective method is to provide several paths to earth as widely separated as possible. At least let there be one wire down each corner of the building. It need not be very large; provided it is of sufficient size not to be melted by any ordinary flash, durability is the only consideration.

Under the ground no trouble should be spared to terminate the conductor in earth which is always moist. The emphasis which has always been laid on this point is none too great. Where possible several earths should be provided, some near the surface and others at greater depth, all being at some little distance from the foundations of the building.

There is another system of protection against lightning which was suggested by Maxwell. It depends upon the fact that with

in a metal shell no discharge can take place, and everything is screened from the effect of discharges without. A building encased in sheet-iron would therefore be completely protected against lightning whether the casing was connected to earth or not. Any metal net-work surrounding an object even if not closed, as a bird-gage, affords comparative protection. Wires along the ridges and across the roof of a house, connected with a wire around the eaves and wires down each corner and the middle of each side connecting with one round the foundation, would enclose the house in a metal protector of this kind. But this is nearly the same construction as that required by the other system. The two may therefore be combined by arming the conductor which runs along the ridge with points (barbed wire), doing away with the wire around the foundation, and in its stead prolonging the wires down the corners well into the ground.

There are some cases, however, where not comparative but absolute security is desired, as in powder magazines. There Maxwell's method must be employed in its completeness. The whole building must be encased in sheet iron; for it is not sufficient that the charge be carried to earth without doing much damage; no part of it can be allowed to enter the building, as the smallest spark there might cause an explosion.

As a rule all considerable masses of metal which enter into the construction of a building should be connected with the lightning conductors at both ends. This applies especially to eave-troughs and water-pipes on the outside of a building; it does not apply to gas-pipes. A most minute spark may set fire to gas at some unsuspected leak, or a gas-bracket may be close to some person's head. It is well to remember that, during the violent electrical disturbance accompanying a flash of lightning, sparks may be given off by pieces of metal not connected with the lightning conductor. Or the flash itself may use other pieces of metal as parts of its path (although the danger of this is slight if a number of paths have been provided for it), and in leaping to them it may do great damage.

It is possible, then, at small cost to protect a building so that the danger of damage by lightning is extremely slight. But theory and observation both condemn the confidence which utters such reckless statements as the following by the Lightning Rod Conference of 1882: "A man may with perfect impunity clasp a copper rod an inch in diameter, the bottom of which is well connected with moist earth, while the top of it receives a violent flash of lightning." Until much more is known of lightning than at present the true scientist will prefer to use the much-ridiculed language of Voltaire: "There are some great lords whom one should only approach with extreme precaution ; lightning is such a one." N. R. CARMICHAEL.

EARLY RECORDS OF ONTARIO.

(Continued from July number.)

QUARTER SESSIONS HELD AT KINGSTON, BY ADJOURNMENT 14TH DAY OF JAN'Y.

TUESDAY, 13TH DAY OF APRIL, 1790.

Present:-Richard Cartwright, Neil McLean, Arch'd McDonell, Esqs.

WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL, 1790.

Charles Justin McCarty appears upon his recognisance taken upon information that he is a vagabond, imposture, and disturber of the peace.

Witness for the pro. sworn, Benj'n Clapp.

For defendant, John Ratton, Wm. Williams, Eman'l Elderbec, Alexr. Laughlan, David Lent, Eliz. VanSickler, Florence Donavan.

The Court having heard the evidence for the prosecution, likewise the evidence for the defendant, will deliberate on the merits of the information against the defendant.

The Court having consulted with the Grand Jury, the Court, with the approbation of the Grand Jury, do order that the said Charles Justin McCarty shall, within the space of one month, leave this district and not return, and that the sheriff of the district shall see this order duly executed.

The King on the prosecution, Conraad Sills vs. Fred'k Peper for feloniously stealing and carrying away a Plough Shear, Coulter and Bolt of the value of Ten Shill's.

The Grand Jury delivered into Court a True Bill.

The prisoner being called to the bar was charged upon his Indict't to which Indict't he pleads Not Guilty-and puts himself upon God and his Country.

Witness for the prosecution Conraad Sills, John Dingman. For the defendant,

The Jury retired to consider of their verdict, and having returned into Court, by their Foreman Gilbert Harris say that the defendant is Guilty.

The Court having considered the verdict of the Jury do order that the prisoner shall receive thirty-nine lashes on his bare

back at the public whipping post. Suffer one month's imprisonment, and shall be set in the stocks one day in each week of that month with the label of Thief.

TUESDAY, 13TH DAY OF JULY, 1790.

Present:-Richard Cartwright, Neil McLean, Arch'd McDonell, Dan'l Wright, Robert Clark, Nich's Hagerman, Stephen Gilbert.

The Grand Jury sworn as per pannel annexed to the precept. Constables sworn for the Town of Kingston for the ensuing year, Rich'd Campbell, Philip Pember.

Henry Bird appeared to answer on the complaint of Katherine Brown, to perform his part towards the maintenance of a Bastard Child by her. The Court having heard the parties, the said Bird does acknowledge the said child and is ready to do what the Court may order. It is ordered that the said Henry Bird shall pay the mother K. Brown the sum of ten shillings per month from the birth until the child shall be twelve months old, and that the said Bird shall give sufficient security for his sure performance of the same.

Charles Justin McCarty having been apprehended and committed by the Sheriff for having returned to this district after having left it, in consequence of an order of the last Court of Quarter Sessions held the 13th day of April last,-The Court do order that the said Charles Justin McCarty shall remain in gaol until the Sheriff shall find a proper conveyance for sending him to Oswego. The court adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, 14TH JULY.

The Court met pursuant to adjournment.

The Foreman of the Grand Jury informs the Court that Owen Ritchy, one of the Jury, is no longer able to attend from lameness. The Court order that the Grand Jury may be cancelled and a new panel made, leaving out the name of Owen Ritchy-previous to their proceeding to business.

The King on pro-Archibald McDonell, Esq. vs James McTagart and George Finkle, for Misdemeanor in refusing to obey the summons of the said Archibald McDonell Esq., one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in said district.

The Grand Jury delivered into Court a True Bill:

The defendants being charged upon their Indictment pleaded not guilty, and for their trial hath put themselves on God and

their Country.

Witness for pro. sworn,-Arch'd McDonell, Esq., Timothy Thomson, William McGraw.

The Jury retired to consider of their verdict, and having returned into Court, by their Foreman, John Ham, say that the defendants are Not Guilty. The Court having considered the verdict of the Jury do order the defendants to be discharged.

THURSDAY, 15TH JULY.

Upon the representation of Frederick Cromer of the ill treatment that he has received from John A. Dingman. The Court are unanimously of the opinion, that the said Frederick Cromer can or ought to live with the said Dingman.'

COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS HELD AT ADOLPHUS TOWN 14TH OF JANUARY 1794.2

Present:-Richard Cartwright, Jun'r, Neil McLean, Hector McLean, John Walden Myers, Hazelton Spencer, Alexander Chisholm, Bryan Crawford, Alexander Fisher, Nicholas Hagerman, Caleb Gilbert, Samuel Sherwood.

The Commission of the Peace was openly read.

The Sheriff returned the Precept.

The Grand Jury was called and sworn.

Richard Ferguson, foreman, Alex'r Vanalstine, Arch. Chisholm, Mathias Marsh, John Chisholm, Tobias W. Myers, Paul Trompour, Peter Rattan, Sen., Reuben Beedle, Benj.

1 Cromer was probably an indentured servant or bound apprentice to Dingman. It was permitted by law to bind out children until they were twenty-one years of age.

2 The records for the years 1791-2-3 are wanting. During that time the Constitutional Act of 1791, had come into force, and the first two sessions of the new legislature of Upper Canada had passed. English law, as the rule of decision in all civil as well as criminal matters, had been formally adopted; 32nd Geo. III. Cap. I. Trial by jury had also been made compulsory; 32nd Geo. III. Cap. II. However English law and trial by jury had already been general in the Western settlements. The names of the Districts had been changed, the District of Mecklenburg becoming the Midland District. By 33rd Geo. III. Cap. VI. the Court of Quarter Sessions for the Midland District is thenceforth required to be held at Adolphus Town on the second Tuesday of January and July, and at Kingston on the second Tuesday of April and October.

The first bill introduced in the first session of the first parliament of Upper Canada, was intended to provide for representative municipal institutions similar to