Meteoric Shower of November, 1837. 379 
with water. The sparks are best exhibited over clean mercury 
with lead. The mechanical electrotome I have contrived with a 
view to combine the above advantages, at the same time that it is a 
useful instrument, affords a most brilliant exhibition of galvanic 
power. The connexion is rapidly broken by a long series of leaden 
bars, raised from the surface of mercury in succession by pins ar- 
. ranged at proper distances on a revolving metallic drum, similar to 
that of a barrel organ or musical box. The lead bars, or wires, of 
large size, are supported in a wood frame by projecting shoulders, 
to take the pins of the drum as it revolves. Their lower ends just 
dip into the mercury of a long narrow cell with glass sides. The 
drum is connected with the battery by a strip of copper pressing 
firmly against its metallic axis. ‘The mercury in the cell is con- 
nected with the spiral by a wire. As the pins come round in suc- 
cessive order, they establish the battery connexion, and again break 
it by raising the piece of lead, and so each one inorder. Revolved 
by a multiplying wheel the effect is exceedingly beautiful, while, in 
the dark, illuminated by its.own light, the whole appears to be at rest. 
MISCELLANIES. 
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN. 
1. On the Meteoric Shower of November, 1837. 
By Denison OutmsteD, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, in 
: ge. 
1. Observations made at Yale College. 
AutuovueH, in conformity with a remark made in my account of 
the meteors of November, 1836,* I had little expectation of a rep- 
etition of the same phenomenon the present year, unless on a very 
limited scale, yet it was deemed proper to take such measures as 
would insure a full knowledge of the facts of the case, whatever 
they might be. Accordingly, I made early arrangements with a 
number of my young friends, who are conversant with the stars, 
deeply interested in the studies of nature, and much accustomed to 
astronomical observations, to maintain a strict watch during the 
whole of the night, between the 12th and 13th of November, and 
* American Journal, vol. xxxi, p. 386. 
