240 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



are compared. The correspondence is of the closest and most satis- 

 factory nature. Indeed the theoretical result generally diflFers less 

 from the mean of several experiments than those experiments differ 

 among themselves. Both in the theoretical and experimental in- 

 quiries, every possible variation of the elements of the investigation 

 — the relative masses of the beam and ball — the velocity of the latter 

 — the rigidity and dimensions of the former — have been included. 



XXXI. Intelligence a?id Miscellaneous Articles. 



METEOIllTE IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



ON the authority of a communication from J. H. Gibbon, Esq., 

 of the Branch Mint of the United States at Charlotte, North 

 Carolina, we give a condensed view of facts regarding a fall of me- 

 teoric masses in that state, not having room for the less important 

 details. 



On "Wednesday, the 31st of October, 1849, at 3 o'clock p.m., 

 several persons in the town of Charlotte were astonished, and not a 

 few were exceedingly terrified, by a sudden explosion, followed at 

 short intervals by two other reports, and by a rumbling in the air to 

 the east and south. 



The sounds were distinct, and continued more than half a minute ; 

 they were imputed by some to thunder ; but there were no clouds, 

 the evening was calm and mild like the Indian summer, and only a 

 mist was seen in the eastern horizon ; nor were the impressions of 

 others better founded, that the explosions were due to the blasting 

 of rocks on a railroad : but sheriiF Alexander having once before 

 witnessed the explosion of a meteor, justly traced the detonation to 

 that cause. 



The negroes, who are very acute observers of sounds in the open 

 air, denied the thunder, and an old fisherman said that the reports 

 were like those of three pieces of heavy artillery followed by the 

 base- drum. Horses both in harness and under the saddle started 

 with alarm. 



Inquiry began to be made for fallen stones, and on Monday a 

 servant of the Mint brought in a report from the county of Cabaras, 

 twenty-five miles distant, that there were notices stuck up on the 

 trees, inviting people to come and see " a wonderful rock that had 

 fallen from the skies on the plantation of Mr. Hiram Post." 



Mr. Gibbon of the Mint, with Dr. Andrews, travelled twenty-one 

 miles, and partly at night by torch-light, to see " the large mass of 

 metallic rock." They found placed in a conspicuous position upon a 

 barrel elevated upon a post*, "a bluish gritty rock," of irregular 

 form, eight inches long, six broad and four thick, bearing marks in 

 spots, of recent fracture, but otherwise black as if it had been exposed 



* With laudable liberality and caution joined, the worthy proprietor of 

 the boon which had fallen on his land — had annexed a written notice— 

 *' Gentlemen, sirs — please not to break this rock, which fell from the skies, 

 and weighs \^\ pounds. — Hieam Post." 



