230 Mr. J. Glaisher on the Meteor which appeared 



thinks the thunder came from the north ; there was no cloud 

 to be seen at the time, and the air was very calm." 



XVI. From Bromham, near Bedford. The Rev. J. S. 

 Goodall, the Vicar, favoured me with a letter containing the 

 following particulars: — 



" Not only was the meteor of the most startling brilliancy, 

 but the roar of the detonation was heard and proved to be of a 

 most peculiar description — not like that of thunder above the 

 earth, but as it were upon the ground or even under it; thus 

 of those of whom I have had any communication upon the 

 subject, some say it was quite like a luggage-train emerging 

 from a tunnel ; others like heavy fire-engines going full-speed 

 along a road pitched with pebbles. To all persons the 

 vibratory noise seemed close at hand ; and persons have told 

 me of their dashing from the centre of the road thinking they 

 should be run over, and others who were at home were fully 

 persuaded that fire-engines had driven into their yard. One 

 servant of a friend of mine cried outright. In my own house 

 alarm possessed us in various ways ; 1 myself have the misfor- 

 tune to be very deaf, and rarely hear thunder, though alive to 

 the vibratory motion which accompanies it. On the night of 

 the 11th of July I was writing in my study, when on a sudden 

 I felt the table and floor shake very perceptibly, at the same 

 moment my dogs came running in and out yelling most pite- 

 ously. On going upstairs I found all in dismay, not so much 

 at the glare of light (that was said to be unequal to twenty 

 moon lamps in the room, and continuing for full half a mi- 

 nute) as from the dreadful crash and rumbling, which they all 

 said was not thunder: from the red colour of the globular 

 ball and the silver streams of light which followed it, I sup- 

 pose there can be little doubt of its being one of the class of 

 Aerolite." 



XVII. From Rugby, the account I received was more 

 particular, and for which I am obliged to the Rev. H. 

 Highton, M.A. 



" 1. Time. The school clock struck 10^ 45"^ immediately 

 after the explosion was heard. I suspect it was a few minutes 

 fast by Greenwich time. 



"2. The light quite obscured the gas-light. Some say they 

 could have read the smallest print by it. Some compare it 

 to a strong sun-light. All speak of its similarity to the elec- 

 tric light in colour and vividness. 



«3. Direction. From W. to E., or W.N.W. to E.S.E. 

 through the zenith. It exploded so soon after reaching the 

 zenith, that the fragments are described as appearing to fall 

 a few yards off. 



