4 Sir J. W. Lubbock on the Mdcor of September, 1846. 



gen from the ratio between the volumes of carbonic acid and 

 nitrogen formed by combustion witli oxide of copper. In one 

 experiment the volume of carbonic acid was 2*43 cubic inches, 

 to nitrogen '46 cubic in. or as 6 to 1 ; therefore taking the 

 carbon as the mean of the two former analyses, or 26-28, the 

 nitrogen would amount to 1 0-33 per cent. I also endeavoured 

 to ascertain the amount of nitrogen by measuring the volume 

 of gas given out by a known weight of gun-cotton, and sub- 

 tracting the carbonic acid as calculated from the previous 

 estimation of carbon ; but the quantity of nitrogen obtained 

 was always too small, owing to the air in the tube taking part 

 in the combustion, the largest amount obtained being 8'20 

 per cent. 



Manchester, Dec. 14, 1846. 



II. On the Meteor of September 25, 1846. 

 By Sir J. VV. Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S."^ 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 

 Gentlemen, 



A S I happened accidentally to witness the extraordinary 

 ■^^ phnenomenon which occurred on the 25th of September 

 lastf, and as it does not seem to have formed the subject of 

 any other communication to your Journal, I address the fol- 

 lowing remarks, well-aware how imperfect unfortunately they 

 must appear. 



I happened to be walking just outside the house at a quarter 

 before 10 p.m., when suddenly the whole scene was illuminated 

 with a light, as it seemed to me, equal to that of the sun at 

 noonday : certainly all objects became much more clearly 

 visible than I ever saw them in the brightest moonlight. But 

 contrast mi^rht lead to an exaggeration in this estimate. As 

 the light proceeded from behind me, I immediately turned 

 round, and I saw in Ursa Minor, and, as nearly as I can 

 guess, occupying the place I have assigned to it in the inclosed 

 sketch, a most brilliant meteor. I scarcely saw it before it 

 faded, and in a few seconds it had entirely disappeared. As 

 it disappeared the stars became again visible, and as I took 

 particular note of its position I cannot be far out in my esti- 

 mate. But the occurrence came so suddenly, never having 

 before heard of any such apparition, and feeling confident that 

 it would be observed by persons more competent than myself, 

 that I neglected at the instant to observe by my watch the num- 

 ber of seconds it remained visible. Instrumental observation 

 under any circumstances would have been impossible. I do not 



• Communicated by the Author. t Sec the Morning Post of the 26th. 



