METEORS. 335 



and at first some sparks seemed to issue from it, such as 

 come from red-hot iron beaten out on an anvil. The 

 splendor was little inferior to that of the sun ; within 

 doors the candles gave no manner of light ; and in the 

 streets not only all the stars disappeared, but the moon, 

 then nine days old, and high near the meridian, the sky 

 being very clear, was so far effaced as to be scarcely seen ; 

 at least not to cast a shade, even where the beams of the 

 meteor were intercepted by the houses ; so that for some 

 few seconds of time it in all respects resembled perfect 

 day. A loud noise followed the explosion of this meteor, 

 accompanied by an uncommon tremor of the air, which 

 sensibly shook the glass windows and the doors of houses, 

 and in some places the houses themselves. It is gener- 

 ally admitted that this meteor must have been composed 

 of inflammable vapor or gas ; but how generated, how 

 inflamed, and whence it received its impulse, it is diffi- 

 cult to imagine. Any solution hithe'to suggested, hardly 

 falls within the limits of possibility. It will at once be 

 perceived that the transient appearance of these meteors 

 preclude the possibility of a careful examination. No- 

 thing relative to them causes greater astonishment than the 

 excessive light they emit. The illumination often oblit- 

 erates the stars, makes the moon look dull, and dazzles 

 the night with the brilliancy of day. There are many 

 instances in which such meteors have made a splendid 

 appearance in full sunshine. They are undoubtedly of 

 as frequent occurrence in the day as in the night, but 

 being eclipsed by the superior splendor of the sun, do not 

 attract the eye.' 



A celebrated meteor was observed in England, August 

 18, 1783, the following account of which was given by 

 the late Mr Cavallo.* ' On the evening of the 18th of 

 August, 1783, we were standing upon the northeast cor- 

 ner of Windsor! terrace. The weather was calm and 



* Mr Cavallo, was the son of a physician at Naples, and was 

 born in 1749. He removed to England and devoted himself exclu- 

 sively to scientific pursuits. Many valuable treatises in the trans- 

 actions of the Royal Society are from his pen. He died in London 

 in 1809. 



t Windsor on the Thames, 22 miles west of London, the favorite 

 country residence of the British Kings. 



