A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 105 
twenty-four days earlier, so that the 12th of November had only thirteen or 
fourteen meteors for the horary number. 
“ This state of the phenomena is not peculiar to 1849. Since 1841, and 
especially since 1845, the maxima of August and November, as well as the 
maxima of less importance in February and May, have always an ascending 
and descending progress more or less marked and gradual; these appearances 
never being sudden, as is the case with those periodic returns which come at 
fixed days and leave no trace behind of their appearance.” 
The meteors of October 15-17 are also mentioned by A. Von Humboldt, 
Comptes Rendus, November 26, 1849. See Phil. Mag. January 1850, p. 75. 
To which he adds the following interesting remarks :— 
“1 think that many apparent anomalies are explained if we admit that the 
stream (of cosmical matter) is of a certain magnitude,—a variable magnitude ; 
and that the asteroids in the annular zone are unequally distanced and agglo- 
merated. Have we not seen the comet of Biela divide into two comets since 
December 19, 1845, each having its tail, advancing parallel at twenty minutes 
distance from one another? Cosmical nebule that have so little mass, such 
as comets, fireballs and shooting stars, must be subject to undergo many 
transformations in form, direction and velocity.” 
No. 4.—Letter from W. W. Smyth, Esq., M.A., Mining Geologist to the 
Geological Survey, to Professor Powell. 
“‘ Holywell, Flintshire, Nov. 19, 1849. 
4 * * * # # * * 
“On the 2nd of November I was walking westward along the hill of Gwy- 
sanan, the residence of Mrs. Davies Cooke, north of Mold; the sun had just 
sunk behind the mountains of the Clwydian range, which were in front of me, 
and the sky was so light and brilliant that I could see no stars for some time 
afterwards: it was ten minutes after five, when my eye was attracted by an 
intensely bright white speck falling from a point about 45° above the hori- 
zon in a north-westerly direction. As it fell its velocity appeared to decrease, 
and when, after I had watched it through 30°, it disappeared near a light 
cirrostratus cloud, I think as much as twenty seconds must have elapsed 
from the moment of my first seeing it. Indeed, towards the conclusion of its 
course it seemed to be almost flceating, as one may see one of the coloured 
lights of a rocket, almost stationary in the air. Its vivid brightness was so re- 
markable, that I remained some minutes on the spot, actually trembling from 
excitement, and expecting to hear a detonation or some sound indicative of 
its not very distant fall. In this I was disappointed; but shall be curious to 
learn whether it happened to be observed by any one else. 
“ Very truly yours, 
“ WarincTon W. Smytu.” 
No. 5.—Letter from W. ἢ. Grove, Esq., F.R.S. &c., to Prof. Powell. 
“ London, Nov. 17, 1849, 
_* * * * * «The following extract from a letter of a correspondent of 
mine near Swansea may be interesting to you. He writes, ‘ Have you seen 
or heard of a remarkable meteor that passed over the earth on Friday evening 
the 2nd of November? The following is a description of it :—Time, half- 
past five, evening ; direction from east to west, and to the north of the ob- 
server at this place; duration about eight seconds; colour bright red ; size 
about 6 inches diameter, with a tail 3 feet long; the body appeared to diminish 
as it went along.’ 
_ “ The place whence this was seen is twelve miles from Swansea, in a direc- 
\ A 
