392 Miscellanies. 
VI. Observations at Ranpotpa Macon Coixiece, Vireinia. 
By Prof. R. Tolefree, (communicated in a letter to the writer of 
this article.) 
“On the night of the 12-13th November, three of the stnidenee 
and myself prepared to watch all night. ‘The sky was serene and 
all was calm. About ten o’clock meteors began to appear. ‘The 
first distinguished for its brilliancy, started from the lower part of the 
Little Bear and proceeded. to the southwest. After midnight until 
two o’clock, all the meteors shot westward ; and from two o’clock 
until day break their course was entirely north west. We only 
watched occasionally during the night, and only on the northern side 
of the heavens, except an occasional visit to the other parts of the 
building.* I counted two hundred and forty eight shooting stars, 
and my companions saw a larger number than this. You may safely 
conclude that five hundred were seen by us, and this from observa- 
tions kept up only at intervals during the night.” 
_ VII. Observations made in Sourn Carouina. From the Charles- 
ton Courier of Nov. 25 
“* Greenville, Nov. 191. —We learn that the people in the neigh- 
borhood of Maybinton, Newbury District, witnessed the fall of an 
immense nnmber of meteors, which first made their appearance 
about twelve o’clock on Saturday night last, and continued their de- 
scent until daylight the next morning. It is said their number was 
not near so great as that of the “ Falling Stars” three years since ; 
but the spectacle is represented as having been very brilliant and 
unusual.” 
From the foregoing accounts compared, we are led to conclude 
that the meteoric shower increased in intensity from north to south, 
that of South Carolina having been the most considerable of all, so 
far as accounts have reached us. 
Does not the recurrence of this phenomenon for six successive 
years at the same period of the year, plainly show its connexion 
with the progress of the earth in its orbit ? and does not the fact that 
the greatest display occurs every where in places differing widely in 
longitude, at the same hour of the day, as plainly indicate its con- 
nexion with the motion of the earth on its axis? The supposition 
of a body in space, consisting of an immense collection of meteors, 
* Had Prof, Tolefree taken his station where his view of the firmament would 
have been unobstructed, he would probably have seen astill greater number shoot- 
ing to the south west. 
