1817.] during the Year 1816. 85 
when exposed to a red heat, and effervesced when treated with 
acids. Its constituents were silica, carbonate of lime, alumina, 
iron, and chromium. What renders this rain the more remarkable 
is, that the constituents of this red dust are the same nearly with 
one of the varieties of the meteoric stones. Hence it probably had 
a similar origin. This fact destroys the plausibility of the hypothesis 
that derives the meteoric stones from the moon. It is equally 
hostile to the supposition, that they were bodies floating about in 
free space, unconnected with the solar system. The formation of 
the powder must have taken place in the atmosphere. 
3. A new variety of meteoric stone fell on the third of October, 
1815, at Langres, in France. The phenomena are described by 
M. Pistollet, a physician in that city (Ann. de Chim. et Phys. i. 
45.) From the analysis of Vauquelin its constituents appear to be, 
RSIUTOE ote ec eths ces VR ee talele's MODE 
Oxiselaf iro). 3662 ET 
Wragnesia Cae st) FU, One 
Chromite 3:5 bs dal S sn ent LO 
98°9 
4, On the 11th of January, 1815, a very remarkable thunder 
storm took place in the Low countries and Westphalia It was 
uncommon on account of its great extent and the great number 
of places struck by lightning nearly at the same time. It extended 
in length from Antwerp to Minden, or about 200 miles, and in 
breadth from Bonn to Nimeguen, which cannet be less than 75 
miles. It struck no fewer than 24 places within this great space, 
and set fire to several, although provided with good conductors. 
See Benzenberg’s account of it in Gilbert’s Annalen, |. 341. 
5. The great quantity of moisture that sometimes exists in the 
atmosphere at very low temperatures is not easily reconciled to the 
common theory of vapour, unless we suppose that it has assumed 
the state of a liquid; but that in consequence of being charged 
with negative or positive electricity, the particles cannot unite 
together, and are each so very minute as not to be able to overcome 
the resistance of the atmosphere. A striking example took place in 
Westphalia on Nov. 4, 5, and 6, 1814. ‘The thermometer was at 
251°, and the weather was foggy. A weak north-east wind drove 
the fog against the trees, where it froze, and loaded them so much 
that tall firs of three feet in diameter were completely overturned 
and rooted up by the weight. (See Gilbert’s Annalen, lii. 233.) A 
similar fog existed at London between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2 of the 
same winter. Fortunately there was no perceptible wind, otherwise 
the injury sustained by the trees might have been as great here as it 
was in Westphalia. 
6. The following table exhibits the mean temperature of every 
month during 1815, in the different places of Great Britain in 
which meteorolgical tables have been kept and published. 
