290 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena^ 



therefore, merely give the general description as collected 

 from them all, the parallel cases, and the accompanying 

 phenomena. 



Nothing will express the remarkable appearance displayed, 

 so well as comparing it to the most brilliant exhibition of 

 rockets and fireworks. One observer calculates (Ame7\ Jour., 

 p. 389.) that at least 207,84'0 meteors were seen at Boston ! 

 They varied in size from that of the full moon (p. 379.) to 

 that of a teacup (p. 384<.), and even a point (p. 389.). Some of 

 them were followed by a train of pale or bluish and reddish 

 light, which, in one particular case, seemed acted upon by 

 the wind. Phosphoric lines also marked the display. In 

 some cases an explosion was heard * ; and a gelatinous sub- 

 stance was found, in three instances, where balls had struck 

 the earth, (p. 396.) The height of these phenomena varied 

 from a short distance from the surface of the earth to a con- 

 siderable elevation (as calculated by the editor) above the 

 atmosphere : in one case, clouds obscured the cause, though 

 the light was seen through. But the immense arcs traversed, 

 the parallaxes, and the perspective, proved that the height 

 must have been immense, where they first appeared; though, 

 in descending through the atmosphere, they exploded, in 

 some few instances, within 10 ft. of the earth ; and, in others, 

 struck it. 



The weather, it seems, throughout the whole extent of the 

 region visited, was suddenly changed, immediately before the 

 display, from "uoarm to f:oM, accompanied by extraordinary trans- 

 parency of the atmosphere. Calmness and frosts succeeded to 

 storms and intense heat. (p. 386.) The wind had changed from 

 s.E. to N.W., and, during the display, to n.e. ; upon which 

 the meteors increased in brightness and number, (p. 384-.) 

 The direction was generally to the west ; but they appeared, 

 to different observers, differently directed. " They fell,'* says 

 one, " in every direction, resembling a fall of snow " (p. 394.) 

 The air was excessively electric during the display : clothes, 

 hair, &c., were visibly affected. The declination of the needle 

 is also, on good authority, supposed to have been increased, 

 (p. 397.) The aurora borealis preceded, accompanied, and 

 succeeded the meteors, as seen in different localities, (p. 397.) 

 All the observers seem to agree in one fact, that the radiant 



* One observer, Mr. Palmer (Newhaven), mentions a peculiar odour, 

 which was compared by the whole company to a smetl of sulphur or onions. 

 (p. 384.) Mr. Trevelyan states, that, during the display of the aurora in 

 the Island of Faroe, he has observed the peculiar odour present during 

 electrical discharges from the earth. {Encyc. Brit., viii. 623., 7th ed.) 

 This, again, serves to connect these phenomena. 



