180 REPORT—1852. 
. 1825. Aug. 16.—About 9" 30™ p.m., a shooting star of the 3rd magnitude 
was seen in the E, at an altitude of about 40°, which rose perpendicularly for 
7° or 8°. 
1825. Nov. 6.—At 9" p.m., a meteor was seen 3° or 4° below Menkar in 
the E.S.E., as large or larger than Venus when at her greatest brightness. It 
did not seem to move, but vanished in an instant. 
1826. May 12.—Great meteor, about 108 40™ p.m., which by the account 
of a person who was with me began to appear about two-thirds of the distance 
between the Pole and Lyra, but on a lower line, between Lyra and Cygnus. 
It was described to me to have begun “as if a star had shot,” and then it 
broke out all at once in a great body, moving, with a moderate velocity, to 
the N.W.; at first, and for some parts of its course, horizontally, but at last 
deflecting downwards in a considerable curve ; in which part of its course I 
first saw it, my attention being roused by the strange blue light it cast on the 
ground. As it was passing on beneath the Pole, it went out, as it were, but a 
red spark, half as large as Mars, passed on in the same direction for 3° or 4°, 
and had the same effect as a case that remains kindled after the extinction of 
a fire-work. This meteor had an intense bluish white light, and illuminated 
objects considerably which were not immediately in the moon’s rays. When 
I saw it I thought it one-third as large as the moon, then about five days old. 
I do not think it left any train. I fancied the light on the ground was waver- 
ing and streaming, and diminished before I looked up, but I was informed that 
the meteor appeared uniform from beginning to end. An hour before, a fall- 
ing star had been seen, with a course of 50° or 60° from the zenith to S.W, 
diminishing before it disappeared. (Gloucester.) 
1826. Sept. 15.—I was informed that about 8" p.m. (uncertain to half an 
hour), a meteor had been seen at some elevation S.E., which passed from N. to 
S., or from N.E. to 8.W., for 30° or 40°, as large asa star of the 1st magnitude ; 
its course was mostly horizontal, but descending towards the last. It had a 
very broad train, as long as two-thirds of its course, which lasted a short time. 
1826. Dec. 21.—About 9" 30™ p.m., while I was looking through a tele- 
scope, I perceived a falling star with the other eye: as soon as I could direct 
my attention to it, J ascertained that it was descending nearly in a straight 
line in the E., the point where I first saw it being between Ursa Major, Au- 
riga, and Gemini: its course was perhaps 20°, pretty slow. It was of the 1st 
magnitude, as large, as bright, and nearly as red as Mars: at the extremity 
of its course it suddenly diminished to the 3rd or 4th magnitude, proceeded 
2° or 3° in that state, and vanished. A few seconds after, another was seen, 
which first appearing very near the course of the former one, I think below 
Gemini, proceeded 8° or 10° in a direction to the S., perfectly at right angles 
to the course of the other. It was hardly so large as the 3rd magnitude. 
1827. Dec. 6.— About 6" or 7* p.m., a very large shooting star was seen, 
whose course was nearly perpendicular, 8° or 10° long, passing through the 
tail of Ursa Major, and very slow : its commencement was not very accurately 
noted, but afterwards it exhibited two or three alternations of light, from a 
white star of the 2nd magnitude, toa brightness much exceeding a Lyre, and 
of a splendid reddish yellow colour. It went out in a faint spark. 
1828. Jan. 19.—About 5°45" p.m., during light twilight a shooting star 
was observed to pass between two clouds in an open space of 2° or 3° ina 
direction sloping to the left. It seemed quite as bright as Venus. 
1828. April 10.—About 95 50™ p.m., a meteor appeared at about 30° high, 
S.S.W. As I only saw it out of the corner of my eye, I cannot be particular 
as to its appearance, but it seemed a sudden short blaze or flash of bright red 
light, brighter I thought than Venus, then uncommonly brilliant. There had 

