49 



was only an extraordinary meteor. It passed the moon, 

 falling at an angle of I should say 20^, and then ceased 

 suddenly, having traversed a path of about 90^, from 

 the south to the east. The colour of the light was 

 that of a blue-light, or rather burning magnesium. The 

 sky was cloudy, but there was no appearance of redness 

 about either the head or the train. I endeavoured to fix its 

 course by the stars, but it was too cloudy, although I could 

 see here and there a star. The conclusions I came to, there 

 and then, were that its course must have been nearly parallel 

 with the road, which by the map runs, at that point, 30^ to 

 the west of north ; that when I first saw it it was about 

 40° above the horizon and due south ; and that it passed 

 about 20^ to the north of the moon. (This would make its 

 line of approach from Pegasus.) While I was thinking of 

 its course I heard a report, not very loud, but which I con- 

 nected with it. I judged it was about 30" after the display. 

 I then looked at my watch, it was lOh. 7m. I then walked 

 along, talking to a fellow-traveller who had not quite 

 recovered his alarm. Presently we heard a loud report, 

 like a short peal of thunder or the firing of a large cannon ; 

 I immediately looked at my watch, it was then lOh. 10m., so 

 that this second report was from three to four minutes after 

 the display. I have no doubt that this was the report of 

 the meteor, for compared with the other it was like the 

 firing of a cannon to a musket. The time of the second 

 report would make the distance 30 or 40 miles, so that it 

 would have passed over Chester and burst over Liverpool. 

 In this case it must have been a tremendous affair, for the 

 sky was cloudy, and I do not think I exaggerate when I 

 say that at one instant it was as light as day; the train was 

 very long and the speed great. It ceased suddenly, as when 

 a ball from a Roman candle falls into water; there were no 

 fragments, as from an explosion. 



