Shooting Stars of December 6 and 7, 1838. 335 
Arr, X.— Additional Account of the Shooting Stars of December 
6 and 7, 1838; communicated by Epwarp C. Herrick, Rec, 
Sec. Conn. Acad. 
Various observations made in this country on the shooting 
stars of December 6 and 7, 1838, were published in the 72d No. 
of this Journal. By recent intelligence it appears that this mete- 
orice display was also noticed in distant regions. 
1. Rev. Peter Parker, M. D. in a letter to my friend, Mr. A. 
B. Haile, dated Canton, China, January 12, 1839, (received here 
May 3, 1839,) after referring to the observations made there from 
I2th to 14th November, 1838, states the following important 
facts: “On the fifth of December, [1838, at Canton, N. lat. 23° 
30’; E. lon. 113° 3’] however, the falling meteors were still more 
abundant, [than on the morning of November 14, 1838,] one 
hundred and sixty being counted in the space of one hour from 
eight and a half to nine and a half o’clock, P. M.; anda few eve- 
nings after this they were much more frequent. have often kept 
a lookout since, but no recurrence has been witnessed.” ‘The 
Canton Register of Dec. 11, 1838, gives the following account of 
the same event: ‘ With reference to the highly interesting me- 
teorological observations taken on the 12th and 13th ult., we have 
been informed that a much more remarkable phenomenon was 
hoticed on the evening of the 5th inst., when from half past eight 
to nine, one hundred and eight meteors were counted ; and from 
hine until half past, fifty two; the moon and clouds then inter- 
Tupted the view.” 
The number of observers is not stated, but it was doubtless in- 
sufficient to note all the meteors visible. 'The evening on which 
the meteors were most abundant at Canton was probably the 
Seventh or eighth. The earliest observation after the ¢hird of the 
Month, which the weather permitted us at New Haven, was on 
the evening of the sizth, about a day and a half later than the 
first observation at Canton. 
2. The London Times of Dec. 11, 1838, contains a letter from 
Mr. George Jeans, a copy of which is here given, with the omis- 
Sion of a few unimportant remarks. “Yesterday evening, Dec. 
7, as I was amusing the son of a friend in this neighborhood with 
4 42-inch telescope, the atmosphere being unusually good for 
