which fell lately in France. SQJ 



tains a collection of the facts and opinions published in 

 France since the ytar 1 700 on thunder-stones, thinuhr, stones 

 fallen from the heavcii'i, &c. In the second is found a cri- 

 tical examination of the systems hitheuo formed on this 

 subject, both in regard to the reality of the rail of stones from 

 the atmosphere, and on their origin and formation. I^. results 

 from it that the ph.-Enomenon of the fall of solid bodies on 

 the earth is, according to every appearance, as old as the 

 ■world ; and that the certainty of the lact is now so well 

 proved, that it can be denitci onlv by those who admit no- 

 thing as certain. The third section contains an essay towards 

 a theory on the formation of slon) and metallic bodies in the 

 atmosphere. At the end, the au.hor gives a sort of recapi- 

 tulation of his whole work in the following Tables :-^lst, Of 

 the principal opinions entertained m regard to the solid sub- 

 , stances which have fallen from the clouds, sdiy, Of the 

 different periods of the fall of these substances on the 

 earth. 



Table of the principal Opinions entertairied in regard to th* 

 solid Substances which have fallen from the Clouds. 



Philosophers who have considered them as production* 

 thrown on the earth by volcanoes or hurricanes : 

 Freret, Barthoid, 



Gassendi, G. A. Deluc, 



Muschembroek, Delalande. 



As mineral substances fused by lightning on the spots 

 where found : 



Lemery, Stahl, 



The Academicians, Gronberg, 



Agricola, Patrin. 



As concretions in the atmosphere : 



Descartes, Sir William Hamilton, 



Ix^sser, J2dward King, 



Goyons-d'Arzas, Kusebius Salverte. 



As masses foreign to our planet : 

 Chladni, Poisson, 

 Biot, The Bibliothc^que Britaiinique. 



Substances, 



