the Meteor of February/ 11, 1850. 259 



" 4. The distance of time between the explosion and the 

 detonation was at least 90 seconds, and probably between 90 

 seconds and 100 seconds. 



"This may be considered as accurately ascertained. I 

 have taken so great pains in getting the people to walk over 

 the ground with me and point exactly where each circum- 

 stance took place, that you may consider these statements as 

 fair approximations to the truth." 



XL. Rugby. Third communication from the Rev. H. 

 High ton. 



" You may fully rely on it that the point of explosion was 

 nearly due magnetic S.E.; the south end of needle standing 

 at 0°, the reading of the circle where it is cut by the line join- 

 ing the eye ; centre of compass and the point of explosion of 

 meteor is 45° or 135° from the west end of needle. The 

 points observed by three observers are so plain and well- 

 defined, that there is no room for more than a few degrees of 

 error- 



"The duration of light was certainly not less than 50 se- 

 conds; for a young man walking with his mother marked 

 carefully, and by unmistakeable marks, the points where they 

 were when the light first appeared, and again where they 

 were when it exploded. If you were to see the places, you 

 could perceive that they could not be mistaken ; and the space 

 could not be walked over by them in less than 50 seconds, 

 though it might have taken more. 



" The time between explosion and detonation is equally 

 well marked as not less than 90 seconds and probably not 

 more than 100 seconds. 



" The direction may be more doubtful, but it was probably 

 in a line running parallel with a line from west to east, at an 

 altitude of about 70° above the S.S.W, horizon, as seen up a 

 street running N.N.E. and S.S.W. If you come here I will 

 show you the points, and you will see there can be no mis- 

 take about these points, which I tell you are clear." 



XLI. Prestwood, Stourbridge, as copied from the Times 

 of February 14th. 



" Yesterday evening, at about half-past ten o'clock, I was 

 observing the peculiar clearness of the atmosphere, the 

 weather having rapidly changed from stormy rain, which had 

 prevailed throughout the day, to that brilliancy of sky which 

 usually betokens, at this season, frost ; when suddenly I was 

 almost bereft of sight by the appearance of a magnificent me- 

 teor, which made its appearance in a westerly direction, and 

 passing rapidly across the zenith, exploded in the east at 



