208 



cabinet, leaving a thin shell of the peroxide of iron in the place of 

 the drops. With the utmost care, and with the use of layers of 

 varnish, he had not been able to keep the surface bright longer 

 than a few days. The natural surface of the stone does not give 

 out drops of the chlorohydrates, for the chlorine has long been ex- 

 hausted therefrom. The results of two analyses, by Dr. Jackson, 

 were as follows : 



I. 2. 



Chlorohydric acid, . . 0.8216 . . . 1.6468 

 Protoxide of iron, . . . 1.7000 . . . 3.2318 

 Oxide of nickel, . . . 0.6000 . . . 2.0000 



3.1216 6.87S6 



Mr. Stodder reported on a pamphlet committed to him, 

 entitled "An Essay on Solid Meteors, by Peter A. Browne, 

 LL. D." 



The author advances an hypothesis of the composition of these 

 bodies, which Mr. S. considered the most plausible which has been 

 offered, viz : that solid meteors are composed of the native metals, 

 and the metallic bases of the earths, and alkalies. That these ele- 

 mentary substances, on entering our atmosphere, combine with 

 the oxygen of the air, for which they have a strong affinity, and 

 thus present the phenomena of ignition, combustion, and explosion, 

 which usually attend their appearance. Mr. S., after examining 

 the various theories on the subject, expressed his opinion, " that me- 

 teors are bodies moving in space, their origin independent of any 

 other known member of the solar system, and identical with shoot- 

 ing stars. He did not, however, agree with the author in believ- 

 ing that mere contact with the atmosphere is capable of producing 

 their ignition, nor does he consider it proved that the condensation 

 of air in their passage through it is sufficient to account for this 

 effect. He remarked, in closing, " there is one substance found in 

 meteoric stones, in combination with others, which, if it existed in 

 them uncombined, would be adequate to account for all the phe- 

 nomena, wherever air should be present. This substance is prot- 

 oxide of iron. It is never found on ihe earth, except in combina- 

 tion, for it takes fire instantaneously by contact with the air, and 

 becomes per-oxide. The great objection to admitting this sub- 



