| Citation |
NYG-A.782.001
15 Jul 1782:32 (1/7)
A London artist, who was well acquainted with the nature and
extent of the revengeful temper of the present King of
Britain towards the Americans, and particular towards Dr.
Franklin, pretended that he had discovered that iron with
round heads, were better conductors of lightning than those
that with sharp points. The King was delighted with the
discovery, and immediately took down all the pointed rods
from his palaces and put up round headed ones in their
stead. After a while it was perceived to be a hum; and the
King gladly fled a second time for protection against
lightning, to the invention of his enemy Dr. Franklin. The
affair soon afterwards gave rise to the following lines
which were published in a London paper:
While you great George for knowledge hunt;
And sharp conductors change for blunt.
The nation's out of joint.
Franklin the wiser plan pursues,
And all your thunder harmless views.
By sticking to the point.
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