420 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena, 



To the above information I beg to append the following 

 remarks : — 



It is certain, that, in 1799, a great display of meteors was 

 seen in Cumana; in 1831, in Ohio; in 1832, in Arabia, 

 Switzerland, and England; in 1833, in North America; in 

 1834, contemporaneously in North America and England; 

 and that these phenomena occurred always on November 

 12 — 13. Professor Olmsted considers them the evidence of a 

 cometic body whose motion is eastwardly. Now, it has been 

 shown, that, in 1832, the phenomenon travelled westwardly, 

 and, in 1834, that it was seen later to the west than to the 

 east, implying a westward motion. (See VII. 386., and 

 VIII. 141.) As witnessed in America in 1834, it is stated 

 that the display was not seen more to the south than about 

 41° n. lat. in America; but it was seen (M. N. H., viii. 97.) 

 in the latitude of London 51° 30' n., the difference in longi- 

 tude being about 73° (if the meteors seen in England and 

 America were the same) ; and they may have been seen much 

 further to the northward. 



Now, it must be deemed extraordinary that, on the same 

 night, within 120 miles of the southern limit of this supposed 

 cometic display, Professor Bache should have seen a dis- 

 play of common electric meteors, whilst the cometic display, 

 according to Professor Olmsted, was in exhibition at a height 

 " above the earttts atmosphere " (according to previous state- 

 ments (see M. N. H., vii. 387.) 2238 miles above the earth), 

 and, therefore, within the range of vision of Professor Bache 

 at Philadelphia. Mr. Twining also allows that there were 

 two or three meteors which, though evidently forming part of 

 the assemblage, did not belong to it, but were mere vulgar 

 meteors that had intruded their trainless "minute white 

 points" into the brilliant circle, crossing the paths of the 

 celestial visitants without ceremony ! Professor Olmsted, 

 moreover, grants that the radiant had shifted its position to 

 the northward and westward since 1833, and that some of 

 the meteors disobeyed the general law ! 



It thus appears, therefore, that in America there were two 

 distinct occurrences of meteoric phenomena of different cha- 

 racters at the same time, and seen from the same localities. 

 As already stated by Mr. White (VIII. 97.) and myself (VII. 

 655.), we had in England a display partaking of the common 

 character, yet still emanating from the constellation Leo, and 

 agreeing in many points with the appearances alleged to be 

 cometic, in colour, brilliance, trains, &c. 



One fact iig at least, established by these seeming contradic- 

 tions ; viz., that common electrical meteors did appear, both in 



