On the Meteors of 13th November. 375 
that would produce such results, T would answer, this is no objection, 
as long as we are ignorant of the composition of the Will-o’wi 
and similar meteoric lights, so often seen over low grounds.— 
Those who prefer it, however, will consider all meteors as solid mas- 
ses, and will then have the liberty of regarding them as the exuviz of 
lunar volcanoes, or perhaps as juvenile terrene comets—or lastly, if 
preferable, they may in the words of an author remarkably perspicu- 
ous upon other subjects, suppose them “to arise from the Sermenta- 
tion y the effluvia of acid and alkaline re le float in the at- 
mosphere.” A profound thinker has said, “ at knew not what 
he himself meant by learned terms, cannot ins us know any thing 
by his use of them, let us beat our heads about them ever so long.” 
So I advise you not to beat your head long about the latter suppo- 
sition. W. E. A. Arkin.” 
6. Phenomena as observed atF'rederick, Maryland, (Lat. 39° 24’N. 
Lon. 77° 28’ W..,) first published in the Frederick Citizen, and commu- 
nicated to Professor Olmsted by the writer, Mr. Virert H. Barper. 
Yesterday morning I observed the most brilliant pee of 
nature I ever witnessed. e heavens appeared filled with what 
struck me at first as sparks of fire flying with great tpi towards 
every point of the horizon.—This was about half pas 
looking attentively for a short time, I perceived that these fiery glob- 
ulesall diverged from the same point, and generally, if not always, van- 
ished in a Juminous trail of a peculiar and beautiful blue and white 
light. One of these in the direction of N. E. near the star Cor Ca- 
protuberance in the middle of the body. It writhed with the tortuous 
motion peculiar to that reptile, and continued visible, as I estimated 
the time, from 3 to 5 minutes, and at last terminated in a broad lu- 
minous nebula. The point in the heavens that seemed to form the 
focus of these rays, if we call them such, was the neck of the lion 
in the constellation Leo. This focus was several degrees in diame- 
ter, if we judge from the fact that when these bodies of light appear- 
ed within that space, they were not projected like the others § in any 
one direction towards the horizon, but either were elongated, form- 
ing two opposite points, or disappeared in the position in which they 
first showed themselves. I could distinguish no report even from the 
largest of these bodies, though their light was sufficient to cast a faint 
adow. ‘The whole phenomenon terminated only by being merged 
in the broad light of day. ‘Travellers and others, I am told, report 
that it commenced about two o’clo 
There was a slight repetition of i it this morning, and from the same 
point in the heavens. If this radiating point shall have been accu- 
rately observed in distant parts of the United States, it may form 
