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Since the communication of this paper to the Royal Society, the steeple of St. Bride's has been surveyed, and found so very much damaged in several of its parts, that eighty five feet have been taken down, in order to restore it substantially. Within these eighty five feet are comprehended the obelisk, placed at the top of the steeple, the small dome immediatly under it, the space between that and the uppermost or Composite story, the Composite story, and the Ionic story. This last, on the East and North sides, was taken down to its bottom; but on the other sides, as they were not injured, some parts were permitted to stand. Three piers were likewise taken down of the second Tuscan story, and one pier of the first. The scaffolding to take this down and rebuild it enabled me minutely to examine, not only the damages occasioned by the lightning, but the manner of its progress. This examination confirmed the opinion of the cause and manner of this accident, which I communicated to the Royal Society, soon after it happened; and before a near inspection could be obtained. It compleatly indicated the great danger of insulated masses of metal to buildings from lightning; and, on the contrary, evinced the utility and importance of masses of metal continued, and properly conducted, in defending them from its direful effects. The iron and lead employed in this steeple in order to strengthen and preserve it, did almost occasion its destruction: though after it was struck by the lightening, had it not been for these materials keeping the remaining parts together, a great part of the steeple must have fallen.
