Fire-lall. igi 



Tlie English, in the course of the fifteen years they have 

 been settled here, have carried cultivation to a very advanced 

 state. The antient forests have disappeared, and nothing is 

 seen but fields of wheat, which are remarkably productive. 

 We have found here towns and villages where every Euro- 

 pean article, and even superfluities, are to be had in abun- 

 dance. The population amounts to nearly 8000, without 

 any slaves. I have sent you a specimen of the wool of the 

 sheep of this country. They came originally from Peru, 

 Paraguai, the Cape of Good Hope, and Bengal. They have 

 already improved in a singiilar manner, and still promise 

 more. Those of Bengal, which were clothed only with 

 hair, have already produced young ones covered with rich 

 fleeces. A residence of five months enabled me to traverse 

 the whole country. We have just left it in order to explore 

 those parts of New Holland which we have not yet visited. 

 The commodore has sent the Nhhi^-alistehack to France ladca 

 w ith the collections we have made. I have left that vessel 

 to go on board the Geographe, and to supply the place of 

 my friend Dcpuch, who returns to France on account of his 

 l^ealth. 



Bailly, Mineralogist, 



riRE-BALL. 



. On the 4th Instant (July) a ball of fire struck the White 

 Bull, public-house, kept by John Hubbard, at East Norton. 

 The chimney was thrown down by it, the roof in part torn 

 off, the Vvindows shattered to atoms, and the dairy, pantn,'^, 

 &c. converted into a heap of rubbish. It appeared like a 

 luminous ball of considerable magnitude ; and, on coming 

 in contact with the house, exploded with a great noise and 

 a verv oppressive sulphureous smell. Some fragments of 

 this ball were found near the spot, and subjected to che- 

 mical analysis by a gentleman in the neighbourhood, who 

 found them to consist of the same ingredients as those stones 

 of similar origin analysed by Mr. Howard and other che- 

 mists, and nearly in the same proportion-*. The* surface of 

 these stones is of a dark colour, and varnished as if by fu- 

 sion. From some indentures on the surface it appears pro- 

 bable that the ball was soft when it descended ; and it was 

 obviously in a state of ignition, as the grass, &c. is burnt 

 up where the fragments fell. lis motion while in the air 

 was very rapid, and apparently parallel to the horizon. 



SINGULAR 



