400 Miscellanies. 
July 14, More rain, so that every thing was fully recovered to ad- 
miration. 
August 11. A plentiful rain. 
December 21. In the evening, two dracones volantes, [meteoric fire- Teas 
balls, | of unusual dimensions were seen ; on the extinguishing of one, 
a noise like a great gun was heard: both light and noise were affright- 
ing to many. See 
17. Description of Russell's Planetarium, with improvements.—This 
great orrery is drawing towards its completion. When finished, the 
zodiac will describe a circle of more than 48 feet. 
The celestial sphere is about 4 feet 8 inches_in diameter, and con- 
tains the Sun, Mercury, Venus, the Earth and thé Moon. The superior 
planets are placed on the outside of the sphere ; Jupiter, Saturn, and 
Herschel, having their satellites revolving around them in their proper 
order, with their inclinations to the plane of the ecliptic. Saturn has 
his two concentric rings, with their proper inclination and direction. 
_ This armillary sphere is a beautiful structure, and is an important 
addition to the orrery first made by Mr. Russell. 
-The whole machine will weigh about one ton and a half, ond is com- 
posed chiefly of cast and wrought iron, and brass, with but little wood. 
It contains about 500 cog-wheels, large and small, principally of brass. 
The Earth revolves on its axis, inclined as in nature about 232°, and 
remains parallel to itself, exhibiting perfectly the manner in which the 
changes of the seasons are produced, and the variations in the lengths 
of the days and nights. The other planets also reyolye on their axes 
duly inclined to the planes of their own orbits, so that the causes of the 
vicissitudes upon each planet are readily comprehended. 
The Moon revolves around the Earth in an orbit duly inclined to the 
plane of the ecliptic; making ascending and descending nodes, the 
retrograde motion of which is also given, so that the circumstances 
under which eclipses of the Sun and Moon happen, are clearly shown. 
seas libration of the Moon is also exhibited, 
_ The Sun is represented by a gilt globe about 15 cmaihas in Gatenter, 
revolving in about its proper time. 
' The primary planets are represented by beautiful glass globes made 
aknarah some attention to their relative magnitudes and telescopic 
appearances. — 
Vesta, Juno, Ceres, and Pallas, are all to be introduced in the ma- 
chine; their motions and great inclinations being properly represented. 
Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschel, will furnish us with their splendid little 
esas 
