tliat Jiave Fallen from the Almosphcrc. 7,'j 



Now there can be little doubt that a force equal to that is 

 exerted by volcanoes on the earth, as well as by the pro- 

 duction of steairi from subterranean heat, when we consider 

 the huge masses of rock, so many times larger than cannon 

 balls, thrown on such occasions to heights also so much 

 greater. We may easily imagine too such cause of motion 

 to exist in the moon as well as in the earth, and that in a 

 superior degree, if we mav judge from the supposed sym- 

 ptoms of volcanoes recently observed in the moon, by the 

 powerfid tubes of Dr. Idcrsehel ; and still more, if we con- 

 sider that all projections from the earth sutler an enormous 

 resistance and diminution, by the dense atmosphere of this 

 planet, while it has been rendered probable, from optical 

 considerations, that the moon has little or no atmosphere, 

 at all, to give any such resistance to projectiles. 



" Thus then we are fully authorised in concluding, that 

 the case o\i pass ill Hit 1/ is completely made out ; that a known 

 power exists in nature, capable of producing the forecroins; 

 efl'ect, of detaching a mass of matter from the moon, and 

 transferring it to the earth, in the form of a flaming meteor 

 or burning stone ; at the r-;ame time we are utterly ignorant 

 of any other process in nature by which the same phaeno- 

 nienon can be produced. Having thus discovered a wav in 

 which it is possible to produce those appearances, we shall 

 now endeavour to show, from all the concomitant circum- 

 stances, that these accord execcdinsrly well with the natural 

 etleets of l!ic supposed cause, and thence give it a very high 

 degree oi' p7-()la/'/lit J/. 



" This important desideratum will perhaps be best attained 

 by examining the consequences of a substance supposed to 

 be projected by a volcano from tiic moon, into the sphere of 

 the earth's superior attraction ; and then comparing those 

 Vvith the known and visible phrenomenaof the blazing me- 

 teors or burning stones that fail through the air on the earth. 

 And if in this comparison a striking coincidence or resem- 

 blance shall always or mostly be found, it will be difiiculc 

 for the human mind to resist the persuasion that the assumed 

 cause involves a degree of probability but little short of 

 certainty itself. Now the chief plijcnomena attending these 

 blazing meteors, or burning stones, arc these : 1 . That 

 they appear or blaze out suddenly. 2. That they move 

 with a surprising rapid motion, nearly horizontal, but a 

 little inclined downwards. 3. That they move in several 

 different diicctions, with respect to the points of the com- 

 pass. 4. That in their flight thev y;eld a loud whizzing 

 sound. 5. That they conunonly burst with a violent ex- 

 plosion 



