Descfiption and Analysis of a Meteoric Stone. 267 



nickel. The result of this analysis gives nearly the follow- 

 ing proportions : 



Silex 46' 



Iron 42* 



Magnesia 1 2-25 



Nickel . . . ; 1-30 



Sulphur 4* 



105-75 

 I shall avoid e;iving a detail of the various experiments 

 ^)ade during the above analvses, with a view to ascertain 

 the presence of other substances in the stone, particularly 

 that of lime and aluniine. I collected a few of the larger 

 grains of iron, and rendered them perfectly bright by tri- 

 turation in sand and water ; tliese were dissolved in sul- 

 phurous acid, without producing the smallest appearance of 

 carbon. This stone, therefore, contained only the same 

 kind of substances which the celebrated Mr. Howard found 

 in the different stones that he so ably analysed. 



Corresponding also with this chemist's results is the in- 

 crease of weight discovered in summing up the quantities 

 of the irigredients. This increase must be' attributed to the 

 absorption of oxygen bv the metallic bodies. 

 I am, dear sir, 



Your very humble servant, 



Dublin Societv House, WiLLIAM HiGGINS. 



July 28, 1811. 



Letter from Mr, Moore to Mr. Higgins. 



** Sir, — I had the honour of receivino; a letter, requesting 

 from me the particulars respecting a meteoric stone that fell 

 near mv house in the cnuntv ofTipperary, and which a 

 short time ago I did myself the pleasure of presenting to 

 the Dublin Society. The particulars are as follow : — Early 

 last August, between eleven and twelve o'clock in the n)orn- 

 ing, I went from Moore^fort to Limerick ; the day was dark 

 and sultry. I returned in a few days, and was immediately 

 informed by my steward and butler that a most wonderful 

 phrenomenon had occurred very soon after my departure ; 

 they produced the stone, and gave ihe following account of 

 the occurrence: there had been thunder; some workmen 

 who were laying lead along the gutters of my house were 

 suddenly astonished at hearing a whistling noise in the air; 

 (Mie said, The chimney is on fire; another said, It proceeds 

 from a gwarm of bees in the air. On looking up, they ob- 

 served 



