334 METEORS. 



perfectly satisfactory. A famous meteor was observed 

 passing over Italy in March, 1076. About an hour and 

 three quarters after sunset, thousands of eyes were attract- 

 ed by a ball of fire, flying with immense velocity through 

 the air. Scientific men computed its height to be at least 

 thirtyeight miles. The ball itself was above half a mile 

 in diameter and moved with the immense rapidity of one 

 hundred and sixty miles in a minute of time. It was 

 heard to make a hissing noise as it passed along, like that 

 of artificial fireworks. As it left the main land at Leg- 

 horn and passed off to sea towards Corsica, it was heard 

 to give a report like a heavy cannon ; immediately after 

 which another sound was heard like the rattling of a great 

 cart running aver stones. It is difficult to imagine by 

 what natural powers this huge body could have been col- 

 lected, or how an impulse could have been communicated 

 to send it with such amazing velocity. 



A wonderful meteor somewhat resembling that just 

 described, was seen all over England in March, 1819. 

 The following description is given by an eye witness. 



1 Sir Hans Sloane mentions that once walking in the 

 streets of London at about a quarter past eight o'clock in 

 the evening, he was surprised to Stee a sudden great light 

 far exceeding that of the moon, which shone very bright. 

 He turned to the westward where the light was, which 

 he apprehended at first to be artificial fire-works, or rock- 

 ets. Its color was whitish with an eye of blue, of a 

 most vivid dazzling lustre, which seemed in brightness 

 very much to resemble if not to surpass, that of the body 

 of the sun in a clear day. This brightness obliged him 

 to turn his eyes from it several times, as well when it was 

 a stream, as when it was pear fashioned and a globe. 

 There was left behind it, when it had passed, a track of 

 a cloudy or faint reddish yellow color, such as red-hot 

 iron or glowing coals have, which continued more than a 

 minute, seemed to sparkle, and kept its place without 

 falling. This track was interrupted, or had a chasm 

 towards its upper end, at about two thirds of its length. 

 He did not hear any noise it made ; but the place where 

 the globe of light had been, continued for some time after 

 it was extinct, of the same reddish color with the stream, 



