248 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



u At Freshford, however, where the thunder had been peculiarly loud, the first 

 rain that fell appeared black, from a number of particles of some dark substance 

 floating in it. Some of the water is now presented to the meeting. The dark 

 particles fall to the bottom, when the water has been left to rest for some time. 

 I shall not offer any conjecture as to the nature of these particles, but I think they 

 are worthy of careful examination. I think it impossible that they could have 

 come from any place but the atmosphere, along with the rain. The only other 

 sources could have been, the vessels in which the water was caught, or the 

 roofs of the houses, on which the rain fell. Now, the first is not likely, for the 

 vessels were set, in order to catch the rain for washing purposes, and, therefore, 

 were quite clean ; besides it is unlikely that the same kind of substance could be 

 found in all the vessels. With regard to the roofs of houses, it is to be observed, 

 that there had been a great deal of rain on Sunday and Monday ; and, therefore, 

 the slates were well washed before this particular rain fell. It is also well known 

 that rain is frequently tinged by various substances, and, therefore, there can be 

 no prior reason for rejecting the atmospheric origin of this. It would be useless, 

 however, to attempt a conjecture as to its nature without a more particular exami- 

 nation than I am capable of making. I hope I shall be considered as having done 

 my part in bringing it under the notice of the meeting. 



" Since writing the above there appears an effervescence in the fluid." 



