Scientific Intelligence. — Meteorology. 391 



5. Morichini on Magnetism. — It results from the experi- 

 ments 6f this distinguished philosopher, that there very proba- 

 bly exists a magnetic power in light, particularly in the exterior 

 edge of the violet ray ; and also, that this power is to be ascrib- 

 ed more to the chemical or deoxydising rays, than to the violet 

 ray itself. If this newly discovered property of light shall be 

 confirmed by the experiments of others, we must not, as some 

 are disposed to do, abandon the idea of the earth's magnetism. 

 The earth, as Morichini remarks, will absorb the magnetic fluid 

 of the solar rays, as it absorbs heat and light. Iron will bear 

 the same relation to the magnetic fluid, as pyrophorus to caloric 

 and phosphorus, by isolation, to light. 



6. Luminous Meteor. — Edinburgh. On Sunday, August 

 27th, about nine o'clock in the evening, a meteor shot over this 

 city, in a direction from SW. to NE., which was visible for a 

 few seconds, and brightly illuminated the sky in its track. It 

 resembled a great sky-rocket. — Falkirk. Sunday last was 

 marked for the sudden rise which the thermometer expe- 

 rienced, rendering the atmosphere so sultry that we were re- 

 minded of the late great heats, and which was not diminished 

 by the peals of distant thunder that continued to grumble du- 

 ring the afternoon. At a quarter to nine o'clock in the even- 

 ing, one of the grandest celestial phenomena that has occur- 

 red in the memory of the oldest person was exhibited. The 

 air was quite calm ; but there was a heaviness which indicated a 

 surcharge of electric matter. A vivid glare of light, tinging 

 every object with a pale blue colour, suddenly blazed forth in 

 the heavens, rendering the minutest object visible as at noon- 

 day. The eyes of every person in the street were instantly di- 

 rected to the east, where a most sublime sight met their gaze. 

 A large body of fire, in shape like a jargonelle pear, and appa- 

 rently of the size of a bee-hive, was moving in a direction from 

 SW. to NE. with a rushing noise, something similar to that of 

 a rocket. It left behind it a very long train, not of sparks, but 

 fluid-like, and of the most resplendent prismatic colours. It con- 

 tinued visible for nearly fifteen seconds, having gone over a 

 space of about forty-five degrees, and descended apparently so 

 low that it actually seemed to approach within a hundred feet of 

 the earth. Having assumed a deep crimson tint, it was extin- 



