292 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena, 



stars appeared over tlie volcano of Gayamho, in QuitOt that that 

 mountain was supposed to be in flames, (p. 368.) The great 

 earthquake of Cumana, in 1766, was also preceded by similar 

 phenomena, (p. 368.) 



Thus far I have followed the American Journal; nor can we 

 dispute the apparent resemblance to the aurora which these 

 meteors assumed. There are some facts which would still 

 more strengthen that idea. The light spoken of on Dec. 3. 

 1833, and again on Dec. 29., was, perhaps, the aurora itself, 

 as that meteor was seen here on the latter day. On Nov. 13., 

 at 4 morning; during the display of meteors in America, 

 occurred an earthquake at Chichester in Sussex.* Vesuvius 

 was in eruption on the 24th; and, a short time before the 13th 

 (the date 1 do not exactly know), Arica and Tecno, in South 

 America, had been destroyed by an earthquake of great 

 intensity. These facts, taken in connection with the stated 

 sinking and trembling of the earth, and with the fall of rain at 

 Harvard, may, perhaps, be allowed to bear considerably on 

 the point at issue. I would also add, that, with reference 

 to the meteors of Nov. 12. 1799, Humboldt has stated (ii. 

 512.) that the sky at Cumana was covered, from Oct. 10. 

 to Nov. 3., with a reddish vapour, through which the stars 

 shone. The heat was excessive before the meteors, though 

 the thermometer was not higher than 26°. The usual breeze 

 did not spring up, the air burnt, the earth cracked ; on Nov. 4., 



* I add here a memorandum relating to this earthquake, which may be 

 of use elsewhere : — 



The 12th of November was (in this place) a very clear bright day : rain 

 had fallen in the early part of the morning, but the afternoon was par- 

 ticularly brilliant. About ^\ p.m., I happened to go up to Wimborne on 

 the London mail. About that time, I observed a fog, of singular character 

 for the season, rapidly rising, and forming in clouds along the surface of 

 the country ; and its progress was evidently from the east to the west, 

 i. e. the fog rose continually later to the west : it was not a sea fog, nor 

 was it in motion from any wind. It rose exactly as steam rises from linen 

 held before a fire \ as I have occasionally seen mists formed among moun- 

 tains, after rain, in very hot weather. By the time we reached Wimborne 

 (not more than an hour), the fog was so intense that one could scarcely 

 see ; and it continued so till about 8 a.m. on the 13th, when it completely 

 dispersed. I observed, at the time, that it seemed as if the ground had 

 been suddenly heated; and others coincided in the remarlc. We heard, a few 

 days afterwards, that the earthquake had occurred at Chichester at 4 a.m. 

 on the 13th: and I could not refrain from connecting the two occurrences, 

 as a similar thick fog preceded the earthquakes at Lisbon, on June 6. 

 1807, and on Feb. L and 2. 1816. [On Nov. 18. 1833, a thick fog extended 

 all over France.] 



It may be as well to subjoin, that the earthquakes which occurred at 

 Chichester, on Sept. 18. 1833, and on Jan. 23. 1834, were felt in this 

 place. I have already communicated the contents of this note to the 

 Chichester Philosophical Society. 



