84 Mr Olmsted on the Meteoric Showers 



limb, but increasing in magnitude at every recurrence, until it 

 becomes total, and afterwards, at each return, but partially co- 

 vering the solar disk, 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 Borcalis appears unusually frequent and magnificent 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 pheno- 

 menon in question, which first arrested attention in ]831, be- 

 came 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 exhibition of meteors on the morning of every future 

 anniversary ; and this, I think, is not to be expected. It is 

 perhaps more probable, that its recurrence, unless in a very di- 

 minished degree, will scarcely be witnessed again by the present 

 generation. The shower, bow-ever, at its late return, was more 

 striking than T had anticipated ; and it must be acknowledged, 

 to be adventurous, to enter the region of predication respecting 

 the future exhibitions of a phenomenon, both whose origin and 

 whose la\rs we so Imperfectly understand. 



But it is time to present the reader with the evidence of the 

 return of the meteoric shower on the late anniversary. 



Accounts of observations before us shew, that the meteoric 

 shower was seen in most of the Atlantic States, from Maine to 

 South Carolina. We will begin on the north. 



I. Ohservations made at Springvale Maine. Extract of a Let- 

 ter from Samuel Dunster, Esq., Agent of the FranKlin 

 Manvjhcturing Company. 



" I requested the watchman at our manufacturing establish- 

 ment to call me if anything of interest occurred. He according- 

 ly called me at about a quarter before three o'clock, on the 

 morning of the 13th November. At three o'clock I began to 

 count the meteors, and numbered as follows — 



• Traite Phys. et Hist, de I'Aurore Boreale. Par. M. de Mairan. Me- 

 moirs of the Eoval Academy of Sciences for 1731. 



