DK. K. A. SMIXirS DBSCBIPTION OF A METEOllITB. 147 



peculiar appearance and composition. The appearance is 

 that of a piece of common wood charcoal, the lines of 

 structure much crossed, and somewhat resembling the 

 charred knotty part of wood, but too irregular even for that. 

 On taking it into the hand, it is at once perceived to be more 

 than charcoal from its weight, which is 2*08 specific gravity, 

 as nearly as possible. I say i\s nearly as possible ; because, 

 having been weighed bt)th in alcohol and water, a little of the 

 sulphur which it contained may have been removed. 

 (Common wood charcoal may be called at most 1*57 

 specific gravity, coke 1*8). This weight is not due to the 

 charcoal only, which has a strong resemblance to that of 

 fir, but to the amount of oxide of iron which it contains, 

 amounting to 34'09 per cent. 



Spread through the whole mass, there is a sprinkling of 

 sulphur, which might be seen by the microscope to be in a 

 crystalline state. The sulphur amounts to 22-30 per cent. 



The principal ingredient in bulk and in weight is charcoal, 

 of which there is 43*59 per cent. I stated in a letter to 

 the Rev. Baden Powell, that it contained no phosphates, 

 sulphurets, or earths. In his report on meteorites, he has 

 given my account of it ; but on further examination I have 

 found minute traces of phosphoric acid, of sulphuret of iron, 

 and of lime. I was of course unwilling to destroy entirely 

 the small piece which remained, the description given being 

 sufficient to put it among the most remarkable meteorites ; 

 its composition being, as the Rev. Baden Powell remarks 

 in his report to the British Association, 1850, totally un- 

 like that of any other meteorite. The remaining portion of 

 the substance, I have given to be added to the collection of 

 Robert P. Greg, Esq. 



I see no clear mode of speculating on its composition. 

 The fine crystals of sulphur seem to shew, that this, like 

 other meteorites, was not heated through the whole mass, but 

 only superficially. This superficial heating gives a glaze 



