OF A METEORIC STONE. 335 



The late President Clap of this College, in his Theory of 

 Meteors, supposes them to be terrestrial comets, revolving about 

 the earth in the same manner as the solar comets revolve about 

 the sun. That, moving in very excentric orbits, when in peri- 

 gee, they pass through the atmosphere, are highly electrified, 

 and in consequence become luminous. As they approach their 

 lower apside, their electricity is discharged, the body disappears, 

 and a report is heard. This being admitted, it is not strange, 

 that by the violence of the shock, portions of the meteor should 

 be thrown to the earth, while the main body, not sensibly af- 

 fected by so small a loss, continues to move on in its orbit, 

 and, of course, ceases to be luminous. It is however, with 

 much deference, that we submit this theory to the scientific 

 world ; although to us it appears to correspond with the analo- 

 gy of the creation, and the least embarrassed with difficulties. 

 Yet there are such numerous objections to this and every other 

 hypothesis, that, until .we have more facts and better observa- 

 tions, the phenomenon must be considered as in a great measure 

 inexplicable. Two things however we consider as established : — 



1. These bodies did not originate from this earth. 



2. They have all come from a common source, but that 

 source is unknown. 



Chemical examination of the stones zohich fell at Weston (Connec- 

 ticut) December lith, 1807. By Benjamin Silliman, Professor 

 of Chemistry, in Yale College. 



The public are already in possession of ample details, con- 

 cerning the fall of these bodies, and the phenomena which pre- 

 ceded the event. I have made an attempt to ascertain their na- 

 ture, by a series of experiments, the result of which is now 

 communicated to the public. It will be necessary to make 

 some observations, and to detail some experiments, upon each 

 of the constituent parts of the stone. 

 I. Of the stone at large. 

 II. Of the pyrites. 

 III. Of the malleable iron. 



x 



