I received by the hand of Mr. Gibbs your excellent Dissertation dell’Utilita de Conduttori elettrici which you have had the Goodness to send me. I have read it with great Pleasure. Be pleased to accept my hearty Thanks.

I find upon my Return to this Country that the Number of Conductors is greatly increased, their Utility having been made manifest by many Instances of their good Effect in preserving Buildings. Among others, my own House in my Absence receiv’d a great Stroke which was visible to the Neighbours, who immediately ran in to see if any Damage was done, or any Fire commenc’d which might by their Assistance be extinguish’d. They found nothing disorder’d, and the Family only much frighten’d by the Loudness of the Explosion. On making an Addition to my House last Year, the Conductor was taken down to be remov’d, when I found that the Copper Point which had been nine Inches long, and in its thickest Part about one third of an Inch Diameter, had been almost all melted and blown away, very little of it remaining attach’d to the Iron Rod. So that at length the Invention has been of Some Use to the Inventor, and afforded an additional Pleasure to that of having seen it useful to others. Mr. Rittenhouse, our Astronomer, informs me, that having inspected with his excellent Telescope many Conductors that are within his View, he finds that the Points of a number of them have also been melted; and we have no Instance of any considerable Damage done to any House that was furnished with a compleat Conductor; and very few of Damage to any other Houses in the City since Conductors became common. With great Esteem and Respect I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant