326 On the Meteors of 13th November, 1833. 



tice of persons even of eminent attainments, who with the best 

 opportunities, were engaged, at the time, in scientific observations 

 upon the phenomena. The true reason why this remarkable fea- 

 ture of the meteoric shower passed unohserved by so many is to 

 be found in its high location — in the morning at least — lying above 

 the range of natural and easy vision. To the numerous testimo- 

 nies in relation to the universal presence of this point of radiation which 

 have been already brought together in previous numbers of this Jour- 

 nal, from the most distant parts of the United States there need be 

 added, in this place only one, that of the Rev. Mr. Wisner, Sec. 

 of the board of Foreign missions who, travelling in North Carolina, 

 between Wilmington and Fayetteville, saw the meteors in action 

 all the night; and, near the morning, on leaving the stage saw the 

 radiant directly overhead, as he judged it to be. We may call his 

 lat. 35° N. the Lon. 79° 30' W. > 



One phenomenon which was observed, an hour or two before the 

 morning light, is too surprising and anomalous in its character to be 

 admitted, did it not rest upon unquestionable evidence: The phenom- 

 enon alluded to is the observed fixedness of the point of radiation 

 in a particular part of the Constellation Leo, — both the radiant and 

 the constellation moving round by the earth's rotation and crossing 

 the meridian, as if the two had risen and would set together. The 

 reader is already apprised that a fact of this nature and purport was 

 observed at New Haven, from a quarter before six A. M, to a quar- 

 ter before seven, by Prof. Olmsted, who watched the point with this 

 express determination in view, — that at Worthington, Ohio, it was 

 observed for nearly two hours before the morning light, by Mr. J. L. 

 Riddel, with a map of the constellation Leo before him, and (not to 

 speak of other observations to the same effect continued during a 

 shorter period) that it was observed at Emmettsburg, Md. for two 

 hours by Prof. Aikin. To these testimonies collected by Prof. 

 Olmsted, may be added that of Mr. D. A. Strong of Buffalo ; with 

 whom the writer of this article was led to communicate by observing 

 the remarks made under his name in the American Mechanics Mag- 

 azine for January. Mr. Strong states that, at a quarter before six, 

 he fixed the range of the point by means of an object in view; but, 

 returning to his range twenty minutes later, he found that the point 

 had moved away to the west and was still near to a star of the sec- 

 ond magnitude (probably *} Leonis) where it had been at the time 

 his range was taken. A very valuable testimony to the same effect has 

 been derived from letters written by Mr. Frederick Merrick, a gentle- 



