THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



JULY, 1834, 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. On certain recent Meteoric Phenomena, Vicissitudes in 

 the Seasons, prevalent Disorders, S^c, contemporaneous, and in 

 supposed connection, tvith Volcanic Emanations. No. 3. By the 

 Rev. W. B, Clarke, A.M. F.G.S. &c. 



" Quid sit, unde sit, quare sit quod ipsum explorare et eruere sine 



universitatis inquisitione non possumus, cum ita cohaerentia, connexa, 

 concatenata sint." — M. Minutius Felix, xvii. 



Meteoric phenomena have been exhibited, during the last 

 few years, on a scale of unusual magnitude, and more fre- 

 quently than at many previous epochs. We will endeavour, 

 in the present Number, to exhibit some prominent examples, 

 and to trace their connection with corresponding derange- 

 ments of the earth ; illustrating their occurrences by reference 

 to more ancient events of similar complexion and character, 

 and in conjunction, at the same time, with the other subjects 

 which these papers [VI. 289., VII. 193.] profess to discuss. 



The most extraordinary instance, perhaps, on record is 

 that given in Silliman^s American Journal of Science and Arts, 

 XXV. 354 — 411. From the statements there published, of 

 more than fifty credible observers, it appears that the whole 

 of that part of the United States which is comprehended 

 between the latitudes of 23° and 43° n., and the longitudes 

 of 61° and 94° w., was visited by a most extraordinary dis- 

 play of falling and shooting stars, for nine hours (from 9 p.m. 

 to daylight), on the night of November 12-13. 1833. The 

 phenomenon was also visible to the passengers on board the 

 Hilah from Liverpool, then on St. George's Bank, 300 miles 

 from the coast, (p. 388.) It is impossible to compress into 

 a reasonable bulk analyses of the separate accounts : I shall, 

 Vol. VII. — No. 40. u 



