23G Scientific Intelligence. [March, 



On Friday night, the 2d of Dec. at about 20 min, before 11, I 

 was walking in an open part of the village of Peckham, about four 

 miles S.S.E. of London. The night was cloudy and dark, the 

 lower part of the atmosphere clear and calm, a vei-y slight wind 

 blowin"- from the E. Suddenly I was surrounded by a great light. 

 1 remember that at the instant I shrunk downward .id stooped 

 forward ; as I was apprehensive of some danger behind me, I 

 instantly ran a few paces. I turned about in a few seconds to the 

 N. E. • for I was certain the light came from that part of the 

 heavens (as it brilliantly illuminated some houses to the S.W. of 

 me) ; and I think at a considerable height from the horizon. But 

 1 saw nothing to cause tliis light. It did not give me the idea of the 

 force and intensity of lightning ; its brilliancy was not so instant- 

 aneous and fierce ; but it was a softer and paler kind of light, and 

 lasted perhaps three seconds. I could discover no noise, though 

 immediately I expected an explosion. 



The strenijth of the light was nearly equal to that of common 

 dav-lio-ht ; all near objects were distinctly visible. The light very 

 much resembled that of the luminous balls thrown from a sky- 

 rocket when it finally explodes. It was not as vivid and blue as 

 that of a strong flash of lightning at night. None of the persons I 

 met that night thought it to be lightning, though none of them saw 

 any thing but the light. Unless it had been very high, if it was in 

 the direction I have supposed, it would be concealed from them by 

 a high wall and some houses. 



A relation of mine, who resides at the northern extremity of 

 Tottenham, saw the light of it as he lay in bed, through a window 

 facing the. west. He describes it to have been as light as day. 



1 am, Sir, respectfully yours, 



John Wallis. 



XI. Weather at Calcutta. 

 During the winter months at Calcutta there is always a fog every 

 evening and morning. In the evening it rises high enough to cover 

 the ground floors of the houses ; but the upper stories are still 

 visible. On this account the ground floors are considered as un- 

 healthv, and are never inhabited by Europeans; but employed 

 either as warehouses, or as lodgings for black servants. In the 

 morning the fog is still more intense, and rises higher, so as to 

 conceal the sun from view an hour and a half after his rising. 

 When the sun sets through the fog he assumes a beautiful vermilion 

 colour. The fog itself acquires the same tint. It is reflected from 

 the water of the river ; so that all nature appears painted of the 

 finest red imaginable. 



XII. On the Mode of conveying Gas for Lighting the Streets. 



(To Dr. Thomson.) 

 SIR, 



Jn answer to your Correspondent respecting the manner in which 



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