1 40 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena, 



last year ; but in all other respects the appearance was the 

 same. We have the statement from a New haven gentleman, 

 and have no doubt of its accuracy. We have not as yet 

 heard of the meteors being seen in any other place. Pro- 

 fessor Olmsted has made a brief communication on the sub- 

 ject to the Newkaven Herald. He states that the presence 

 of the moon permitted only the larger and more splendid 

 meteors to be seen. The number of them, though smaller 

 than that of last year, was much above the common average. 

 They began to be frequent as early as four minutes past one 

 o'clock, when a fireball of unusual splendour blazed forth as 

 a signal. From this period they continued to fall at a pretty 

 uniform rate until daylight was far advanced. It was esti- 

 mated that 1000 fell during the night. Their directions 

 were more remarkable than their number, and afforded 

 more unequivocal evidence of the identity of the phenomenon 

 with that of last year. They appeared, as before, to radiate 

 from a common centre, and that centre was again the constel- 

 lation Leo." (New York Journal of Commerce, Nov. 19. 

 1834.) Now, in VII. 654., I have recorded my observation 

 of the meteors on the same night at this place. As will be 

 seen, on referring to that statement, the particulars agree 

 with those given in the foregoing account. I have since 

 received information that they were seen by other persons in 

 this vicinity ; and that, as early as eleven o'clock p.m. on 

 Nov. 12., they were observed in great numbers; one, espe- 

 cially, having a very remarkable train. The information I 

 have is too scanty to be of much scientific use ; but the time 

 mentioned serves as a guide. It will, I suppose, be allowed 

 that the same display of meteors was seen in America and 

 in Dorsetshire; and that either they were the continued effects 

 of an electric action in the air over a wide extent, or that 

 they were, as Professor Olmsted supposes, the evidence of 

 the return of his new cometic body. As he states that the 

 motion of that supposed body is from west to east (see VII. 

 386.), the exhibition of 1834, like that of 1832, puts that 

 notion to the test, and refutes the fact. 



They were first seen (according to the New York Journal) 

 at 1 h. 4 m. a.m., Nov. 13. They were first seen in Dorset- 

 shire at 11 p.m., on the 12th. 



The longitude of Newhaven is - 72° 50' w. 



The longitude of Poole is - ■ - 1 58 w. 



Difference - - -70 52 — 4 h. 43' 28" 



Therefore 1 h. 4 m. a. m., Newhaven time, is equivalent to 

 5 h. 47 m. 28 s., Poole time; which, added to one hour, the 



