Miscellans#, — 399 
served one hundred and fourteen shooting stars. This fact was an-— 
nounced in his Astronomical Annual for 1840, p. 
15. Determination of Longitude by Shooting Stars.—It has been 
Stated that Dr. Maskelyne first suggested (in 1783?) the utility of cor- 
responding observations of shooting stars and the larger fire-balls for 
the determination of differences of longitude. It appears, however, 
that George Lynn is entitled to the credit of a distinct proposal of this 
kind, made much earlier, in a paper entitled “A method for determin- 
ing the Geographical Longitude of Places from the appearance of the 
common meteors called Falling Stars,’ published in the Philos. Trans. 
of the Royal Society of London, for 1727, No. 400, p. 351. A sug- 
gestion somewhat ledicomnechontvies was made still earlier by Dr. Hal- 
ley, in his account of a large meteor seen in England March 19, 1719, 
(Philos. Trans. 1719, No. 360.) He says “a considerable use might be 
made of these momentaneous phenomena for determining the geograph- 
ical longitudes of places. For if in any places, two observers by help 
of pendulum clocks, duly corrected by celestial observation, exactly 
note at what hour, minute, and second such a meteor as this explodes, 
and is extinguished, the difference of the times willbe the difference 
of longitude of the two anaes as is well pies 
16. Ancient Medawrobipedt Me nda.- The foll 
copied from entries made by the Rev. James Pierpont, eames of the 
first church in New Haven, Conn.) on the blank leaves of an almanac 
forthe year 1692, (by John Tulley: Cambridge, Mass. : printed by 
Samuel Green and Bartholomew Green, for Samuel Phillips.) The 
dates being in the Julian style, must of course be advanced ten days to 
bring them to our present reckoning E. C. H. 
- 1692. Tuesday, February 23. At night an unusual eastern storm of 
furious wind and rain began, and continued till Sabbath following. 
Rivers higher than ever known. Tee: bridge carried away : 
Great damage through the country. 
Thursday, March 3. The aforesaid storm renewed, and continued for 
July 1. Latter end of June, multitudes of caterpillars fell on corn, 
and did much spoil in some places, but were remarkably checkt with 
us. 
July 4. Excessive hot, and a sore drought about the time. 
July 9. Excessive hot again. About the time a severe drought. 
Indian corn almost spoiled : all signs of rain vanisht in drought. 
July 11. Unexpectedly, and without ahi signs, a long shower, 
which revived all things languishing be 
