A Letter from Mr. Henry Eeles, to the Royal Society, concerning the Cause of Thunder

Mr. Eeles volunteers, in this letter, his theory of what causes thunder and what effect the thunder has on the clouds and atmosphere. During his era the nature of lightning and thunder were not understood. However, Eeles was confident that electricity was the cause of thunder and lightning. In order to prove this Eeles undertook a number of experiments in the Knockmealdown Mountains. As a result of these trials Eeles penned a number of essays, which he submitted as letters to the Royal Society. In his letter "concerning the cause of thunder" Eeles examines the existing theories in circulation amongst his contemporaries regarding the cause of thunder. In his critique of existing theories as to the cause of thunder, Eeles cites the common assumption that thunder is analogous to gunpowder, which maintains that thunder, occurs when "sulphureous and nitrous particles in the air … take fire by fermentation, or some other accident". Eeles discounts this as a possible theory stating that "there is not anything familiar to thunder in fired gunpowder, except the noise". Eeles attributes the cause of thunder to the "that fire, which is made apparent in electrical experiments", which he explains "pervades and adheres to most bodies". Eeles elucidates water as the property that is more thoroughly permeated by this fire (electricity) than any other substance. Eeles explains that the origin of thunder lies in clouds that are dense with humid vapour". He notes that this most commonly occurs during warm weather causing heavy showers, and that because the "humid vapours" are gathered together "there will be a body of this fire collected" which results in a "rumbling noise" that is "heard after the first crack or cracks of thunder".

The item, read before the Royal Society on November 7, 1752, is a First Edition, extracted and disbound from The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Vol. 47, For the Year 1751 & 1752, pages 524-529. The volume was published in 1753. The pages are tanned, but the text is clear and easily read. The item is in good condition.

The illustrations accompanying this description show the first page and one other page of the item.

Henry Eeles (1702-1781) During his era the nature of lightning and thunder were not understood. However, Eeles was confident that electricity was the cause of thunder and lightning. In order to prove this Eeles undertook a number of experiments in the Knockmealdown Mountains. As a result of these trials Eeles penned a number of essays, which he submitted as letters to the Royal Society. [Wikipedia]