on Thursday, the 12//* of Augvst 1853. 399 



rect, but I think forming too small an angle with the horizon — 

 probably it was about 30° — certainly not so much as stated by 

 George Fosbery Lystei',Esq. The centre of the object was as nearly 

 as possible 34° in altitude, and, as may be seen by the diagram, 

 nearly N. by W. I have not heard of any one having seen the 

 body which produced the illumination ; and it appears to me un- 

 accountable that the appearance should continue so long visible, 

 and its resolution into distinct luminous masses, which has been 

 described to me by other observers agreeing with my own per- 

 ception ; and these had not wholly disappeared until neai'ly ten 

 minutes had elapsed. 



" The observation of Mr. Lyster could not, I think, be correct 

 as to the position of S.S.W., as my attention was directed to it 

 immediately after the ilash of lightning, and it was then, as 

 above mentioned, N. by W." 



XVI. Third communication from Mr. Walter. 



" On receiving your favour I have endeavoured to set down as 

 correctly as possible the position of the meteor of August 13, 

 and I lind that my former statement was incorrect from my 

 hastily laying down the position of the stars as to time, which 

 in the enclosed diagram I have done with more accuracy. The 

 azimuth of the meteor was certainly not W. of N., but a little 

 E. of N. Its position was marked by me with reference to Polaris 

 and a. Ui'sae Majoris, with which its centre formed an angle a 

 little more than 90° ; and as I had ample time to mark it re- 

 peatedly, I believe the position shown in the diagram to be strictly 

 correct." 



XVII. From Bristol. Thomas Austin, Esq., furnished me 

 with the following particulars : — • 



"About 9"^ 30™ P.M. (local time), on the night of the 13th 

 inst., a vivid flash of lightning, or a similar evanescent burst of 

 light, was observed to issue from a dense black cloud in the 

 north. This black cloud was fringed with oifsets of less density; 

 out of one of these, or rather through it, after the lightning flash 

 had ])asscd away, an horizontal streak of intensely bright light 

 was projected, which continued to display its luminosity for 

 about ten minutes, when it gradually faded away; before Anally 

 disap))(;arii)g it resolved into three ])ortions. 



" The streak of meteoric light was nearly north, and at an 

 elevation of about G5^ above the horizon." 



The estimated altitude is too great. 



XVIII. Second comnmnication from T. Austin, Esq. 



"On receiving your couunuiiication I revisited the spot from 

 which the meteor of the 13th ultimo had been seen by me, but 

 regret I cannot give you the altitude, as the objects around by 



