Although France and other nations have taken active steps to give official sanction to the best known means of protection from the ill effects of atmospheric electricity, nothing in this way has ever been done in England for the public generally.
The enquiries by householders and public bodies for advice and instruction were so numerous, the absence of authorized or well-matured directions was so marked, the practice in vogue so varied and anomalous, that it occurred to the Meteorological Society to take some action in the matter.
Accordingly, at a Meeting of the Council of the Meteorological Society, held on 15th of May, 1878, it was resolved—
‘That the House Committee be instructed to address the following Societies:—
The Royal Institute of British Architects,
The Physical Society,
The Society of Telegraph Engineers,
asking them to name delegates to co-operate in considering the desirability or otherwise of issuing a code of rules for the erection of lightning conductors, and to proceed in preparing a code if it is thought desirable.’
In accordance with this resolution the following letter was addressed to the Secretaries of the above Societies:—
The Meteorological Society,
30, Great George Street, Westminster,
June 14, 1878.
Sir,
The Council of the Meteorological Society have had under their consideration for some time the possibility of formulating the existing knowledge on the subject of the protection of property from damage by electricity, and the advisability of preparing and issuing a general code of rules for the erection of lightning conductors.
They are of opinion that this would best be done by a joint committee of representative members of those Societies before which such subjects most naturally come; and they have, therefore, decided upon inviting the co-operation of your Society by the nomination of one or more delegates to join a Committee by whom the whole question should be considered, and to whom also any written communications would be submitted.
The Council trust that your Society may be represented by delegates; but if that course be impossible, they invite any written suggestions which you may have to offer.
A meeting of the delegates will be called for an early date after the receipt from the Societies consulted, of the names of the gentlemen nominated by each.
We are, Sir,
Your obedient servants,
G. J. Symons, }
John W. Tripe,} Hon. Secretaries.
In reply to this circular all the societies invited nominated delegates, and the Conference was constituted as follows:—
| Meteorological Society. | C. Brooke, F.R.S., Past President. |
| E. E. Dymond, F.M.S. | |
| G. J. Symons, F.R.S., Secretary. | |
| Royal Institute of British Architects. | Prof. Lewis, F.S.A. |
| J. Whichcord, F.S.A., Vice President. | |
| Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians. | Latimer Clark, M. Inst. C.E., Past President. |
| W. H. Preece, F.R.S., M. Inst. C.E., Vice President. | |
| Physical Society. | Prof. W. G. Adams, F.R.S., President. |
| Prof. G. Carey Foster, F.R.S., Past President. |
The steps taken by the delegates will be best explained by a short narrative chiefly formed of extracts from the minute book of the Conference.
The first meeting was held at the rooms of the Meteorological Society, on November 14th, 1878, when all the delegates were present. Mr. C. Brooke, F.R.S., was appointed President of the Conference, and Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., Secretary.
Professor W. E. Ayrton was elected a member.
A circular, which will be found in Appendix A, was drafted for issue to manufacturers of lightning conductors. This was sent to sixty-five firms, but only eight replied, and their answers are printed verbatim in the same Appendix. An analysis of the replies forms Appendix B. Appendix C is a reply received too late for insertion in Appendix A, and after Mr. Preece had compiled Appendix B. Another reply from an American firm will be found in Appendix I, p. (192), making ten in all.
At a subsequent meeting, the delegates from the Royal Institute of British Architects were requested to ask the Council of that body to issue a circular to their members inviting them to furnish information respecting buildings injured by lightning. This circular, together with abstracts of the replies, and a brief Introductory Summary, by Messrs. Lewis and Whichcord, will be found in Appendix D.
Mr. Symons submitted to the meeting a mass of statistics respecting accidents by lightning which he had collected in the years 1857–59; they were referred to Professor Ayrton, and his note upon them constitutes Appendix E.
At the meeting on August 5th, 1879, the Secretary announced the death of the President of the Conference, Mr. C. Brooke, F.R.S., a vote of condolence was passed unanimously, and ordered to be forwarded to Mrs. Brooke. The Conference then proceeded to elect a new Chairman, and it was unanimously resolved that Professor W. G. Adams, F.R.S., be requested to accept the office.
The following circular was approved and ordered to be forwarded to a large number of the most important newspapers and periodicals throughout the United Kingdom.
LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.
To the Editor of——
Sir—
In the summer of 1878 delegates were nominated by the following Societies, viz., the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Society of Telegraph Engineers, the Physical Society, and the Meteorological Society, for the following purpose:—
“To consider the possibility of formulating the existing knowledge on the subject of the protection of property from damage by electricity, and the advisability of preparing and issuing a general code of rules for the erection of Lightning Conductors.”
The delegates have held several meetings, and have already collected, firstly, from the manufacturers of Lightning Conductors,
