Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 237 



ings. A rough trial with a common quadrant the following day 

 gave, from the position indicated by a sailor who saw the meteor 

 (probably at its greatest altitude), about 30°, and about 10° E. of 

 magnetic north. . It is described by all as having cast a strong 

 shadow — that the hour could have been seen on a watch — that while 

 globular it approached the full moon in apparent size — that no noise 

 was heard during its appearance. I also subjoin an extract from 

 Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, which evidently refers to 

 the same meteor. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



Respectfully yours, 



N. S. Heineken. 

 Letter No. 1. 



" Sidmouth, August 13, 1852. 



" I have written down, according to your request, all the parti- 

 culars I can remember respecting the beautiful meteor which I saw 

 last evening. It was about 12 minutes past 9 p.m. when, as I was 

 walking home, a light — so bright that my figure cast a strong sha- 

 dow across it — streamed upon the road. I instantly turned round 

 and saw in the sky, about 15° W. of Cassiopeia, a meteor the size of 

 the full moon, and of a warm yellow colour. The ball immediately 

 shot out into a bar, apparently 7° 30' in length and 1° wide. The 

 edges of the bar were sharply defined, and the breadth was the same 

 throughout ; but both the ends were jagged, and in the centre there 

 was a rent which gradually became wider, until within 30 seconds, 

 as near as I could guess the time, there was a distance of 30' between 

 the two portions. In about 30 seconds more the bar lost its sharply 

 defined appearance and faded into a thin luminous cloud witliapale 

 diffused light, which disappeared altogether in the course of two 

 minutes. The meteor appeared to me to be stationary after it had 

 shot out into the bar, until it had faded into the luminous cloud, 

 which I fancied had a slow motion towards the east. 



" Anne R. Bennett." 

 Letter No. 2. 



" Sidmouth, August 13, 1852. 



"As I was returning home about 12 minutes past 9 p.m. on 

 Thursday the 12th instant, I was startled by seeing the road sud- 

 denly illuminated by some brilliant light behind me. Turning in- 

 stantly I saw a bright body in the sky, due north, I think, half-way 

 between the pole star and the horizon, the constellation Cassiopeia 

 being to the ease of it. 'I'he meteor rapidly spread into a horizontal 

 bar about 1\ degrees long and scarcely one in width, the centre and 

 extremities of a beautiful pale green — two points between bright yel- 

 low shading into the green on either side; the centre became paler, 

 as though a separation were taking place, and gradually the meteor 

 lost its brilliancy and defined form, becoming more like a small lumi- 

 nous cloud which slowly faded from my sight. The meteor ajjpeared 

 stationary, and was visible for 2 minutes, but the intense light lasted 

 scarcely 30 seconds. 



" H. N. Smitu." 



