William Banting¹ to Faraday   after 22 June 1859²

4 The Terrace | Kensington

Dear Sir,

I am delighted to have interested you sufficiently to honour me with a visit and that was not an unprofitable waste of your valuable time.- I take much interest in natures great works or indeed any of her works for all are great but this instant destruction of my Accacia Tree which I was privileged to witness seemed to me most wonderful - I am very glad to be able to offer you a particular specimen which you did not possess and as your observation imparted an increased interest have had the parts photographed of which I have the greatest pleasure in offering you 3 copies with the parts of the tree you desired to possess. Also my own and my neighbours impression on witnessing this great work of nature in case it may be useful[.] The Photograph of the tree standing after it was struck was not taken whilst it was standing but you know the pains taken to obtain its relative position in reference to the surrounding trees and its altitude therefore it is a copy of a Photograph with its introduction by hand photographed and is really true and perfect as I could desire. I regret not having the tree photographed before it was cut down but have done my best to mend the omission - I have sent a copy to Sir James South and Sir Willm. Hooker³ who will have one piece of the Tree at Kew and if you would like 2 or 3 more copies you are most heartily welcome - I cannot hope ever to hear your lecture or opinion upon it but should be very glad to know if you think it was so riven by the power of steam so instantaneously generated - this alone seems astounding & inexplicable to me and yet I cannot imagine any other cause[.]

I have the honour to be | Sir | Your obedient Servant | Wm. Banting

Mr Faraday Esqr

Account of an Accacia struck by Lightning in the garden of Mr. Banting at Kensington at 1.30. P.M. on Sunday 12th June 1859.

For a few seconds there was a perfect lull in the Storm which came from the east and reached Kensington about 1 o’clock[.] The Atmosphere was dull heavy and peculiar giving me an idea of what I had read about on the approach of a Tornado Typhoon or other great natural convulsion which rather alarmed me though not generally nervous about Storms.- An exceedingly vivid and brilliant double flash of lightning accompanied by a crashing peal of Thunder and a crushing sound like falling Trees and very heavy rain quite alarmed me particularly as the Atmosphere was still further darkened by falling black masses which I found were pieces of bark[.] My Accacia Tree was shivered and its expansion had blown the bark to a distance of nearly 100 feet in every direction - such parts as were not so thrown off being in ribbons when the wood collapsed - This Tree one of the largest of its kind in this locality was in full perfect vigour stood nearly 50 feet high and branched out from a sort of fork 32 feet above the ground at which point the electric fluid seemed to have entered it passed down the center ripped it open charred the riven surfaces from the center to the outside and left the Tree at about 12 feet above the ground in a South easterly direction without any further trace of its progress in the Neighbourhood[.] The Tree measured 20 inches diameter at 3 feet above the ground but the trunk was not injured below that part when the electric fluid passed out at a part where a heavy or large branch had been formerly cut off, yet, little moisture was left in any part and none whatever where the electric fluid had passed through the body.

The tips of the branches of most of the surrounding trees seemed scorched - A gooseberry Bush 150 feet from the Accacia with the fruit upon it was scorched or withered to the extent of two thirds of its entirety - An espalier cherry tree in another direction was entirely withered, all tending to show “as I fancy” how greatly the Atmosphere was charged with electricity and a marvellous work of nature beautifully but fearfully accomplished in one instant[.]

Willm. Banting | 4 The Terrace | Kensington

See Photograph of Tree after it was struck[.]

Photograph of all the parts when cut down

Letter from my Neighbour in corroboration -