388 Meteors seen in America 



suppose each planet to be surrounded by a particular atmo- 

 sphere, independent of the rest of the universe, and fenced in 

 by a kind of wall, which many expressions seem to imply. 

 If space be filled, as it doubtless is, though we know nothing 

 about it, by a universal atmosphere, bodies which are said now 

 to fall from heights above our atmosphere may have been, in 

 their original state, carried up by great heat into very lofty 

 regions, even to a thousand miles. At any rate, it has not 

 yet been shown that the heat generated in a volcanic erup- 

 tion is not sufficiently powerful to produce such effects. And, 

 on the other hand, it may be questioned whether bodies may 

 not be in some measure displaced in vision by optical causes 

 connected with the atmosphere. These speculations may 

 seem absurd to such men as Professor Olmsted, with whom 

 I have no pretension to dispute an argument : but, having 

 taken a certain view of the subject, I do not like to abandon 

 it hastily, and I have no reason to consider the meteors of 

 1832 and 1833 as exceptions to the general character of 

 meteoric bodies. 



The idea of a " cloud and shower " perfectly corresponds 

 with the idea which we have of transported volcanic matter 

 so discharged ; and, as to the effects produced, " the sudden 

 cold," " the change of wind," &c.. Professor Olmsted allows 

 the same results to true aerolitic agency. (Amer. Journ.^ 161.) 

 I have already produced evidence (VII. 296.) to show that 

 meteors are followed by such changes in the atmosphere, and 

 no defender of cometic influence can gainsay that evidence. 



But it also appears that the western parts of the American 

 continent were subjected to a " change of seasons," and that 

 unusual warmth and mildness of weather prevailed on the 

 shores of Lake Huron through the winter. (Mr. Schoolcraft 

 in Amer. Journ.,^ xxvi. 139.; see, also, Mr. Hildreth's 

 paper in the same work, p. 85.) I shall, hereafter, bring 

 forward some evidence upon this point, and show that a line 

 of cold extended between two lines of xvarmth during the 

 late winter, which can only be accounted for in one way. 

 That the meteors might, and did, modify for a time the states 

 of the atmosphere, is probable; but we might as rationally 

 impute to them the state of weather in Europe, as the change 

 of season in America. In both cases, those changes appear 

 to me to depend on a cause to which the meteors themselves 

 were originally subject. I would not wish it to be inferred 

 that a volcanic eruption, or emanations from the earth, must 

 necessarily be immediately contemporaneous with meteoric ap- 

 pearances. Volcanic vapours may float for a considerable 

 time in space before they become sufficiently condensed to 

 assume a solid form : and, again, it is very probable that such 



