302 Supposed Connection o/Metemic Phenomena, 



panied by a fireball, and from 2000 to 3000 meteoric stones, 

 fell in Normandy. On the 27th, St. Vincent's was in erup- 

 tion, and on March 26. occurred the earthquake at Caraccas. 

 M. Biot says that *' the direction which the meteor must have 

 followed is exactly that of the magnetic 7neridian ; which is a 

 remarkable result." (Nicholson's JonrnaL) 



Professor Santi of Pisa, who at that time resided at Pienza, 

 related to Mrs. Starke {Information for Travellers, 6th edit, 

 p. 310. note x), that, on the 16th of June, 1794, just before 

 the destruction of Torre del Greco, a " dark and dense cloud, 

 at a great height, was seen from s. e., coming in the direction 

 of Vesuvius, which is about 200 miles horizontally from 

 Pienza. At this height, the cloud was heard to discharge 

 noises like the sound of several batteries of cannon; it 

 then burst into flames ; at which moment fell a shower of 

 stones for seven or eight miles round, when the cloud gra- 

 dually vanished. These stones are volcanic, being composed 

 of grey lava, resembling what is found on Vesuvius ; and Pro- 

 fessor Santi, who took infinite pains to investigate this pheno- 

 menon, felt confident that the cloud rose from Vesuvius, 

 which was at that moment disgorging fires, whose force and 

 effects cannot be calculated," &c. The Earl of Bristol (Bishop 

 of Derry) also wrote to Sir W. Hamilton, that on July 12. 

 1794, just eighteen hours after the eruption, stones fell at 

 Sienna, 250 miles off, in the midst of a violent thunder storm. 

 (P. 1\, 1795.) See VI. 297. 



On August 29. 1833, the whole province of Nepal, and 

 neighbouring parts of India, were desolated by continued 

 shocks of earthquakes. Monghyr, Patna, Lucknow, Pur- 

 neah, Katmandoo, &c., suffered dreadfully; 10,000 houses 

 being overturned, and from 600 to 800 lives lost. A few days 

 after, there occurred a fall of aerolites at Candahar, which 

 broke in the windows, roofs, walls, &c., killing a child, and 

 attended by lightning and meteors, and followed by o-fog for 

 six days.* The earth at this time was shaken throughout : 



* It is stated, that, during the earthquake at Lisbon, in Nov. 1755, 

 London, and, in fact, the greater part of England, was visited by one of 

 the greatest fogs ever known. {A. R.y 1813.) The occurrence of fogs on 

 these occasions is an additional link in my argument. M. Falda has stated 

 that, on July 13. 1797, at 9 J p.m., he witnessed a meteor in the south-west, 

 of the form of a globe, almost as large as the moon at full; its course 

 being marked by a perpendicular streak of dazzling white light. The 

 weather was hot. The thermometer varied from 18° to 20° Reaumur ; 

 and, between 4 and 5 p.m., there had been a storm in the same quarter of 

 the heavens. At the time of this phenomenon, the earth was overspread 

 by a pale mist, through which no stars could be perceived ; and which, 

 the following night, became a thick fog. (Polekampton, iv. 461.) During 



