jy^fcription of a Glory, 465 



tion : which indeed, might excite terror, or 

 delight, in the beholder, according to the dif- 

 pofition of mind with which it was viewed. 



Several appearances have been defcribed by 

 philofophers, in fomc refpefts refembling what 

 I faw, but not exactly the fame. The arch in 

 fize, fituation and colour was moft exaflly the 

 glory reprefented in fome piftures, and is mani- 

 feftly the archetype whence it has been copied 

 by a painter. Indeed fuch a phsenomenon is 

 well adapted to excite religious awe and reve- 

 rence. 



When I returned into the chaife, a bright 

 radiance appeared clofe to its fhadow, but no 

 feparate coloured circle was formed. 



In order to inveftigate the caufe of thefe cu- 

 rious appearances, on optical principles, it may 

 be ufeful to note fome peculiar circumftances. 

 The cloud was fpecifically heavier than the air 

 of that region where it was placed : for, it de- 

 fcended, with conliderable velocity, down the 

 fide of the mountain. It was very clofe and 

 Ihaliow, being, in part, comprefled by its own 

 weight, the air at that altitude being too rare 

 to fufpend it. 



I have feen, at other times, but not frequently, 

 clouds of the fame appearance. On the 28th of 

 November 1780, I faw fome clouds which ex- 

 aftly refembled thofe in which the glory was 

 obferved, but had not leifure to approach them. 

 Vol. III. H h Thefc 



