Meteorite Collection — Handbook and Catalogue. ii 



scientific men as the delusion of a few badly scared or very credulous 

 observers. 



As proof of this it may be noted that as late as 1772, three 

 French Academicians, among whom was the renowned chemist Lav- 

 oisier, having investigated the stone which was said to have fallen at 

 Luce, France, in 1768, reported that in their opinion it was only an 

 ordinary one struck by lightning. 



In the next few years however, meteoric falls occurred under 

 circumstances so accurately defined that their authenticity could not 

 be denied. 



On the 13th of December, 1795, at Wold Cottage (215) in York- 

 shire, England, a stone weighing 56 pounds fell within ten yards of 

 where a laborer was standing, penetrating 12 inches of soil and 6 

 inches of chalk rock. It was found when examined to be of different 

 character from any ever before known in that region. 



No phenomena of sound or light were observed by the laborer, 

 but in the surrounding villages an explosion was heard like the firing 

 of guns at sea and at some points a sound of something unusual pass- 

 ing through the air towards Wold Cottage. 



Still more unmistakable was the fall which occurred at Krakhut 

 (216, 217) near Benares, India, about 8 o'clock on the evening of De- 

 cember 19, 1798. A ball of fire appeared in a calm and cloudless sky, 

 accompanied by a sound like that of thunder, and then the descent of 

 a number of stones was observed by several Europeans and natives. 



Finally at L'Aigle (218, 220) in the Department of Orne, France, 

 about 1 P. M. April 26, 1803, occurred a shower of more than a thous- 

 and stones, the circumstances attending which were so unmistakable 

 that even the skeptical French Academicians were obliged to give up 

 their doubts. An exhaustive summary of the facts in regard to this 

 fall having been made by the French physicist Biot, his conclusions 

 led the whole scientific world to believe that from time to time, 

 material bodies having an extra-terrestrial origin do come to the earth. 



As a result of these conclusions such bodies, which are called 

 meteorites, are now as far as possible carefully preserved and the phe- 

 nomena attending their fall are accurately noted and recorded. The 

 fact that they are the only material bodies which ever reach the earth 

 from the universe beyond it, gives them a peculiar interest, and their 

 study has taught something and may teach yet more of the nature 

 of cosmic matter and forces. 



While the meteorites of different falls vary in individual particu- 

 lars, they all conform to a common type and possess as a whole 

 characters which serve to distinguish them from any terrestrial bodies. 



