294 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena^ 



and, on Jan. 1., all the wells at Bienne threw out a quantity 

 of silvery matter with a foaming torrent, that made the streets 

 like milk. {Gazette Universelle de Suisse.) It was just the 

 same during the earthquake at Lisbon, in 1755. [See Ebel^ 

 ii. 20.) Vesuvius was in eruption in January, also. 



It is observable, that the shocks of earthquake* in Cu- 

 mana, in 1799, were coincident in direction with that of the 

 meteors ; and, as a parallel case, I quote another : — While 

 the coast of Chile was being elevated by earthquakes, on 

 Nov. 20. 1822, meteors were observed 7'unning along in the 

 same direction as the shocks^ viz., from north-east to south- 

 west; the preceding day (19th) being remarkable for the 

 extreme rarefaction of the air. (A, R.) During the same 

 month and year (on the 7th), luminous balls of fire were seen 

 at Bourges, in France, of the size of the moon ; followed by 

 earthquakes at Heidelberg, Stutgard, &c., from the 25th to 

 the 29th. The aurora was seen, on the night of the 7th, by 

 Captain Parry. [Second Voyage, p. 381.) 



That the aurora is connected with shooting stars, I had 

 evidence, on the evening of Sept. 17. 1833 ; when, about the 

 time that the beam of light appeared (9 p.m.) in the clear 

 sky, several stars shot off from it to the southwards, con- 

 tinuing in sight, and leaving a slight train, for several seconds. 

 Rain followed next day from the south, with wind. On the 

 same day occurred a fall of snow at Caithness, with un- 

 usual cold; and, on the 18th5 an earthquake was felt at Chi- 

 chester, at 10 A.M. ; the aurora and the zodiacal light being 

 both visible in the evening of that day. On the 26th, Pro- 

 fessor Parish observed, at Cambridge, a large meteor, tra- 



* The years 1716, 1717, and 1718 are remarkable for meteoric phe- 

 nomena. In 1716, on March 6., occurred an aurora of extreme brilliance ; 

 which was seen from Iceland to the east of Poland, and all over the 

 north of Europe, from 50° lat. [Gall, Nature ^ iv. 394.); and, at that 

 time, Grimvatn in Iceland broke out into eruption (Scrope, p. 248.). On 

 Aug. 18. 1716, meteors were seen all over Europe, from 8 p.bi. to 3 a.m. 

 On Jan. 4. 1717, there was a shower of fire at Quesnoy. On March 17. 

 there was an appearance of imperfect lightning ; attributed to the aurora, 

 but considered of the same character as that of 1737. (VI. 296.) On 

 June 6., Vesuvius erupted, and continued in activity till 1718. Eyafilla 

 Yokul was also in eruption this year. On March 6. and 7. 1718, occurred 

 an eruption and a tremendous earthquake at St. Vincent. The mountain, 

 whence issued clouds of dust, &c., disappeared, attended by a hurricane. 

 (Scrope, quoting Moreau de Jonnes, p. 163, 164., and p. 255.) On 

 March 19. 1718, an extraordinary blazing meteor was seen all over Eng- 

 land and France. The account of it, by Dr. Halley, in Phil. Trans., 1719, 

 will bear comparison with that of the American meteors in Silliman's Jour- 

 nal. El Pico was also in eruption in 1718. On April 6. 1719, a shower 

 of ashes fell in the Atlantic for 18 hours, so that volcanic action was con- 

 tinued. 



