126 
Tt had no scintillation, no appearance 
of train; no change, sensibly, of light, 
figure, or apparent diameter. I saw it 
tor about five oy six seconds, and then 
jost it at some height above the horizon. 
When it disappeared, it was considerably 
5S. of the W, 
Air damp. Sky hazy. 
I have seen two or three meteors, 
which very much exceeded this in appa- 
rent diameter, one of them more than ten 
times; but none of which the brightness 
has been more beautifully vivid. 
Sc..5 T.=2! of a degree. 
Its proportion to the enlightened part 
of the )}’s disc is pretty accurately ex- 
pressed in the annexed fhgures. 
Its dise being so perfectly circular, and 
the uniformity and blueness of its intense 
hght, are the most remarkable circum- 
stances. The western or preceding part 
of its disk was most blue. The white a 
pure and very strong white, 
Indeed, when an object seen under so 
small an angle could make such an im- 
pression on the retina of one then look- 
ing at the moon, it is sufficiently evident 
how luminous it must have been. From 
the time of my being sensible of the 
light, 1t must have been two or three se- 
conds before I saw the object. 
The air has been in a very electric 
state for several days. 
I have just been looking at 22, who, I 
am confirmed, is inferior in brightness, 
and I thinkin apparent magnitude. 
Assigning it the lowest height any 
way probable, fifty miles from the earth, 
when first seen, its velocity, I think, must 
have been one-half that of a cannon ball 
at the moment of discharge; consequent- 
ly 240 miles an hour, at least: and [ ¢an- 
not think it less than 4; of aimile in di- 
ameter. 
~ T have examined its supposed altitude 
by the positions of the stars near which it 
was seen, and find it right. At the in- 
stant when observed, it was beyond Cor 
Caroli, and a little below it, and passed 
under Arcturus. When its light caused 
Impolicy of the Pursuit of Conguests 
[Sept: Ih 
me to look for it, I apprehend it was not 
much west of the north. ~ 
The circumstances shew that this me- 
teor was no projectile from the moon; 
at least at the time of its appearance, — 
The D was very dichotomous, being 
within a few'hours of her first quarter, 
Its relative position to the moon is not 
meaut to be indicated in the sketch, for 
it disappeared much west of the moon, — 
which set considerably southward. 
It will ‘not seem. surprizing that so 
small a diameter should give light suffi- 
cient to strike the eye so forcibly, when 
it is recollected that Venus frequently 
casts a shadow, and is sometimes seen im 
the full day. I believe, however, I have 
under, rather than over,rated itsapparent — 
diameter. Your’s, &c. 
Troston, 
July 29, 1808. 
ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
OUR Correspondents in general are 
under an obligation to Mr. Boileau, 
for the curious extract from Southey’s 
letters, on the subject of removing the 
Portuguese government to the Brazils. 
Tt appears then, that the plan, and a most 
rational and public-spirited one, it truly 
Carpet Lorrt. | 
is, originated in the expanded mind of a — 
real statesman, upwards of a century ago. 
T have no reason to doubt the liberality 
of thinking and patriotism of your Corre- 
spondent Mr, Boileau, but lapprehend he 
has yet not paid that attention it merits, 
to the following noble and enlightened 
sentiment of the old Portuguese secretary ; — 
a sentiment indeed, which would out- 
shine letters of gold.— Thus should 
Brazil become the port of the world, 
The Europeans would come there for 
goid, and silver, and jewels, and whatever 
productions might be raised; nor when 
the ports were opened to them, would — 
they ever think of conquering the coun- — 
trys : 
The ground of my ajprehension lies 
in the nature of the position of Boileau 
(p. 126 Mag. for March) he says,“ the 
superior force of the Portuguese power — 
in South America, backed by the naval 
strength of the British empire, will enable 4 
it to annoy the French and the Spanish 
possessions in that quarter of the globe, 
and on that foundation, which is the only — 
secure one in politics, it will find its safety. 
In Europe, it was at the mercy of its — 
neighbours; in America, its neighbours 
willbe at its mercy.” 
If 
