Isaac L Winn to Benjamin Franklin, September 1, 1769

[Before February 1, 1770 1 ]

Sir

Tis a common and I am afraid just complaint, that Seamen are exceedingly backward in availing themselves of the discoveries which Men of Science have made, and the directions which they have given for their benefit and safety. Notwithstanding the pains several eminent Philosophers have taken, to bring Conductors into general use, as well in Ships as houses, ’tis too true that very few Vessells are furnish’d with them, tho’ scarce a year passes that does not afford us Instances, (some of them terrible ones) of Ships being struck by Lightning. For my part I am never without a Conductor in my Ship. I have had them of various constructions: that which I now use is a Chain of copper wire as described in the annex’d plate: that such a Chain, so disposed may conduct the lightning, and prevent a Stroke that might destroy a Ship, has often been demonstrated: but a circumstance that occurred in my last Voyage may perhaps have greater weight with some Seamen than all the reasoning of the Electricians: If it should be a means of perswading them to make use of Conductors my Intention will be answer’d. In April last, as we approached the Coast of America we met with strong Southwesterly Gales: they had continued several days, when exceeding dark heavy clouds arose in the opposite quarter, forced against the wind that blew with us till they had cover’d all the North Eastern half of the Hemisphere; the Struggle then between

I. L. Winn

References to the Plate