136 Mr. J. Taylor on Rotatory Steam Engines. ! 
During my walk home, I observed several fine meteoric 
stars, most of which appeared to be shot from the same point 
of the heavens, which point was somewhere in a right line be- 
tween me and the Twins. One of these meteors shot with a 
moderate velocity across the north part of the meridian, at an 
altitude of about 80°, and appeared to traverse an arch of the 
heavens of 90° or 100°. It burst into several luminous frag- 
ments at the western termination of its range, and became 
extinct in a moment. I listened for some time, but heard no 
noise; neither did my servant who was with me, and who 
listened attentively at my request. I had previously point- 
ed out to him the direction he was to look in, and he saw 
the meteor from the first to its last appearance. He also di- 
rectly afterwards saw another from the same quarter, which 
traversed the heavens in nearly the same direction as the for- 
mer. He called out to me, but it was lost without my seeing 
+t. ‘These meteors were seen about five minutes before the 
last display of streamers mentioned above. 
I saw no appearance of the aurora to the south of the zenith, 
though frequently looked for. The sky was quite clear of 
clouds, and the black southern expanse, studded with its bril- 
liant stars, afforded a fine contrast to the display of the aurora 
in the north. 
Artillery Place, Woolwich, Nov. 19, 1835. 
N.B. Whilst writing the above, a friend has called on me, 
who saw fine streamers about half-past eight o’clock. 
De Ea 
XXVIL. On the History of Rotatory Single Steam Engines 
working expansively, in reply to Mr. Henwood. By John 
Taylor, Esq. ERS., Treas. G.S. 
To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 
GENTLEMEN, 
Me: HENWOOD by his letter in your last Number (p. 20.) 
seems to exhibit a great desire for controversy, In as much 
as he attacks me because my communication appears to him 
to imply that a rotatory single engine working expansively is 
something of novelty. Now, not to insist upon the thing be- 
ing little known, it must be evident that it was no part of my 
object to discuss whether the engine which I described was 
new or otherwise, and that, in fact, I stated that it was not a 
new invention, and mentioned another on the same construc- 
tion formerly erected at Wheal Vor. 
I have since found that Captain Francis of the Mold mines 
has successfully applied the same principle to Whim engines; 
and I am glad to hear that those of Messrs. Gregor and 
