74 REPORT—1850. 
prove nothing in favour of a constant law with respect to any connexion 
between these phenomena.’ Such is Von Hoff’s view. (Gesch. Verans 
Erdober, Th. iv.) 
9th. Meteors. 
“ A somewhat nearer connexion may be supposed to exist between earth- 
quakes and phenomena of this kind. These meteors belong to a class of 
phenomena proportionally seldom displayed by the atmosphere; yet they 
have been tolerably frequently observed to occur at the same time with 
earthquakes. To this class belong the so-called globes of fire; and other 
extraordinary lights and illuminations (Entziindungen) in the regions of the 
air, which cannot be considered as belonging to the ordinary methods of 
electrical discharge.” ? 
Such meteors have been observed to occur contemporaneously with earth- 
quakes in the years 95 B.c., and A.D. 893, 1001, 1325, 1640, 1674; 1683; 
1703, 1737; 1752, 1756, 1810, 1820; 1821, 1822; 1824, 1828, 1829, 1891; 
1833 and 1835; 
Humboldt states, that just before the great earthquake of Riobamba, a 
great shower of meteors was seen at Quito (4th of Feb. 1797); that he was 
informed at Cumana, that just before the earthquake of 1766 a similar dis- 
play had been seen; and on the 11th of November 1799; he and Bonpland 
witnessed such a phenomenon in close connexion as to time with the earth- 
quake which then afflicted Cumana. (Pers Nar.; vol. iii. p. 831 ; Cosmos, 
notes 44; 45.) 
10th. The Aurora. 
This phenomenon, now so well ascertained to be in direct sympathy with 
terrestrial magnetism, has been often observed before and after earthquakes: 
I have found no instanee in which it was remarked during an earthquake 
shock, but it might then easily escape observation. 
On the 19th and 20th of October 1848, during the New Zealand earth- 
quake, the aurora was very bright in the south-east (the direction hearly 
towards which the shock travelled) ; but there was nothing to show any con- 
nexion, in this or in any other case, with the forces concerned directly ih the 
shock. 
If there be any real reaction upon the magnetometer for declination here- 
after discovered, as due to volcanic action, and not traceable to secondary; 
electrical or other disturbance close to active vents (and nothing can 
be more possible than that the sudden movement beneath of great masses of 
fluid igneous rock, usually rich in iron; shall be found to have such reaetion), 
then it may also be found that the aurora, that most airy and evanescent of 
all visible meteors, may have some direct, though probably slight relation to 
the most tremendous agency that the mechanism of our planet possesses. 
- 11th. Other Atmospheric Phenomena. 
Under this head Von Hoff has placed together some curious facts. “1 
have alreatly mentioned,” says he, “ that it seems to me more probable, that 
the changes going on in the interior of the earth exercise some influence on 
the atmosphere; than that the latter should in any way influence that process 
which seems to have its seat deep in the inner portions of the earth, As the 
globes of fire before spoken of may have their origin in peculiar gaseous 
exhalations, so it seems probable that other changes in the condition of the 
atmosphere may be produced by these terrestrial forces: Indeed, alterations 
in the ordinary state of the atmosphere have not unfrequently been remarked, 
which ought not too boldly to be ascribed to the influence of the earthquake. 
We have already noticed the observation, that the earthquake in Peru, in the 
