.^35 Recount of a Skoiuer of Meteoric Slones 



ftactured in any part, for the whole of its surface was uniformlv 

 smooth and black as if affected by sulphur or gunpowder. Six 

 or seven more of the same kind of masses, but smaller, and frac- 

 tured, as if shattered from each other or from larger ones, de- 

 scended at the same time, with yreat velocity, in different places 

 between the lands of Scagh and the village of Adare. One more 

 very large mass passed with great rapidity and considerable noise 

 at a small distance from me ; it came to the ground on the lands 

 of Brasky, and penetrated a very hard and dry earth about two 

 feet. This was not taken up for two days ; — it appeared to be 

 fractured in many places, and weighed about sixty-iive pounds ! 

 Its shape was rather round, but irregular: it cannot be ascertained 

 whether the small fragments which came down at the same time 

 corresponded with the fractures of this large stone in shape or 

 number ; but the unfractured part of the surface has the same 

 appearance as the one first mentioned. Tliere fell also, at the 

 same time, on the lands of Faha, another stone, which does not 

 appear to have been part of, or separated from, any other mass : 

 its skin is smooth and blackish, of the same appearance with the 

 first-mentioned, and weighed above twenty-four pounds. Its 

 shape is very irregular. This stone is in my possession, and for 

 its volume is very heavy. 



" There was no flash of lightning at the time of, or imme- 

 diately before or after, the explosion ; the day continued very 

 calm and serene; was rather close and sultry, and without wind 

 or rain. It is about three miles in a direct line from the landtt 

 of Brasky, where the very large stone descended, to the plat:e 

 where the small ones fell in Adare, and all the others fell inter- 

 mediately ; but they appeared to descend horizontally, and as if 

 discharged from a bomb and scattered in the air. 

 " I am, sir, 



'^ Your obedient servant, 



" Sam. Maxwell. 

 " IVilliam Higgins, Esq. 

 " Dublin Society-House." 



There is no phaenomenon in nature so strange or so difficult 

 to be accounted for, as the existence of meteoric stones in the 

 atmosphere, and the circumstances attending their motion and 

 descent to the earth. The fiery meteors which deposit them 

 are often seen at a considerable height above the clouds, moving 

 in a horizontal direction with great velocity, but gradually ap- 

 proaching towards the earth. When thev reach within a certain 

 distance of it, or when they meet with clouds, the pheenomena 

 of thunder and lightning are produced, the ignition ceases, and 

 the stones come down, most frequently shattered into masses of 

 diflfcrcnt sizes, with the effects of fusion, without exception, on 



their 



