135 REPORT—1850. 
November, are characterized by several peculiarities, which clearly distinguish 
them from ordinary shooting-stars. Such peculiarities are the following :— 
1. The nwmber of meteors, though exceedingly variable, is much greater 
than usual, especially of the. larger and brighter kinds. 
2. An uncommonly large proportion leave Zuminous trains. 
3. The meteors, with few exceptions, all appear to proceed from a common 
centre, the position of which has been uniformly in nearly the same point in 
the heavens, viz. in some part of the constellation Leo. 
4. The principal exhibition has at all times, and at all places, occurred 
between midnight and sunrise, and the maximum from three to four o'clock. 
tn all these particulars, the meteoric showers of 1834, 1835 and 1836, have 
resembled that of 1833; while no person, so far as I have heard, bas observed 
the same combination of circumstances on any other occasion within the same 
period. I have not supposed it necessary, in order to establish the identity 
of these later meteoric showers with that of 1833, that they should be of the 
same magnitude with that. A small ectipse I have considered a phenome- 
non of the same kind with a large one; and, conformably to this analogy, I 
have regarded an eclipse of the sun, first exhibiting itself as a slight indenta- 
tion of the solar limb, but increasing in magnitude at every recurrence, until 
it becomes total, and afterwards, at each return, but partially covering the 
solar disc, until the moon passes quite clear of the sun, as affording no bad 
illustration of what probably takes place in regard to these meteoric showers. 
The fact that the Aurora Borealis appears unusually frequent and magnifi- 
cent for a few successive years, and then for a long time is scarcely seen at 
all, was proved by Mairan a hundred years ago*. There is much reason to 
suspect a like periodical character in the phenomenon in question, which 
first arrested attention in 1831, became more remarkable in 1832, arrived at 
its maximum in 1833, and has since grown less and less at each annual return. 
Some seem to suppose that we are now warranted in expecting a similar ex- 
hibition of meteors on the morning of every future anniversary ; but this, I 
think, is not to be expected. It is perhaps more probable, that its recurrence, 
unless in a very diminished degree, will scarcely be witnessed again by the 
present generation. The showcr, however, at its late return, was more stri- 
king than 1 had anticipated ; and it must be acknowledged to be adventurous 
to enter the region of predication respecting the future exhibitions of a phe- 
nomenon, whose origin and whose laws we so imperfectly understand. 
Accounts of observations before us show, that the meteoric shower was 
seen in most of the Atlantic States, from Maine to South Carolina. 
From these accounts compared, we are led to conclude that the meteoric 
showers increased in intensity from north to south, that of South Carolina 
having been the most considerable of all, so far as accounts have reached us. 
Does not the recurrence of this phenomenon for six successive years, at 
the same period of the year, plainly show its connexion with the progress of 
the earth in its orbit? and does not the fact that the greatest display occurs 
everywhere in places differing widely in longitude at the same hour of the day, 
as plainly indicate its connexion with the motion of the earth on its axis? 
The supposition of a body in space, consisting of an immense collection of 
meteors stretching across the earth’s orbit obliquely, so that the earth passes 
under it in its annual progress, while places on its surface lying westward of 
each other are successively brought, by the diurnal revolution, to the point 
of nearest approach, will satisfy both these conditions. ; 
* Traité Phys. et Hist. de ’Aurore Boreale. Par M. de Mairan. Memoirs of the Royal 
Academy of Sciences for 1731. 
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