294 On the Elements of the Four New Planets 



seen from the three different levels, for above an hour, when 

 the phenomena seen from the middle position began to descend, 

 so that, as the heat of the day increased, or rather became more 

 general and uniform, the view from the sitting-room became 

 nearly the same as that seen from the attic story ; while the 

 view from the cellar-flat became that which was seen from the 

 sitting-room. Shortly after mid-day the phenomena of un- 

 equal refraction became so striking from the level of the street, 

 that they attracted the attention of all the inhabitants in the 

 neighbourhood. From two till five p. m. the phenomena were 

 more indistinct and less interesting ; but, as the heat began to 

 abate towards six p. m. the appearances observed in the morning 

 were in a great measure repeated. 



" The occasion," says Mr Scoresby, " of the frequency of 

 these phenomena during the last summer, and of their extra- 

 ordinary character, may perhaps be accounted for from a re- 

 markable and sudden change in the temperature of the air. 

 The cool weather of the preceding spring had continued down 

 to the beginning of June. The sea, even near the coast, was, 

 in consequence, at its winter temperature, whilst the air became 

 greatly heated by the fervent glare of an unclouded sun. When, 

 therefore, the air near the surface of the earth became greatly 

 warmed, the stratum immediately in contact with the sea was 

 chilled by its coldness, whereby media of unequal density and 

 refractive power were produced. And through these unequal 

 media, the rays of light, both from the shipping and the Hol- 

 derness coast, had to pass, to the eye of the observer, an un- 

 interrupted surface of water, in all cases lying between the ob- 

 jects and myself. The passing of the rays of light at an ex- 

 tremely small angle through the different strata of different re- 

 fractive powers would sufficiently account for most of the phe- 

 nomena observed." 



Art. XXVIII. — On the Elements of the Four Nezv Planets 

 Vesta, Juno, Ceres, and Pallas. 



The following elements of the four new planets have been col- 

 lected by Francis Baily, Esq. the learned president of the As- 



