342 HISTORY OF 



subject, which is certainly involved in much diffi- 

 culty. Some have supposed them to be merely 

 projected from volcanoes ; while others have sug- 

 gested, that they might be thrown from the moon ; 

 or be bodies wandering through space, and at 

 length brought within the sphere of attraction of 

 our planet. 



" Various lists of the periods, places, and ap- 

 pearances of these showers of stony and earthy 

 matters, have been given from time to time in the 

 scientific journals. The latest and most complete 

 is that published in the first volume of the Edin- 

 burgh Philosophical Journal, compiled partly from 

 a printed list by Chaldni, and partly from a manu- 

 script one of Mr Allan, read some years ago at the 

 Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



" A few of the more recent instances of the fall 

 of these stones may be here added, with the au- 

 thorities on which they rest. 



" 1790, July 24. A great shower of stones fell 

 at Barbotan near Roquefort, in the vicinity of 

 Bourdeaux. A mass, fifteen inches in diameter, 

 penetrated a hut, and killed a herdsman and a 

 bullock. Some of the stones weighed 25 Ib. and 

 others 30 Ib. Lomet. 



" 1791, May 17. Stones fell at Cassel-Berar- 

 denga, in Tuscany. SoldanL 



" 1794, June 16. Twelve stones, one of which 

 weighed 7& oz. fell at Sienna. Phil. Trans. 1794, 

 p. 103. 



" 1795, Dec. 13. A large stone, weighing 

 55 Ib. fell near Wold Cottage in Yorkshire. No 

 light accompanied the fall. Gent. Mag. 1796. 



