METEORS. 339 



ground, but the smaller ones remained on the surface. 

 The shower did no considerable damage, only breaking 

 the tiles of some of the houses.' These showers are not 

 always, however, harmless. In- Bordeaux, in 1789, a stone 

 fell through the roof of a cottage and killed a herdsman 

 and some cattle. Parts of this stone are now preserved 

 in the Museum at Bordeaux. 



The following is an account of some meteorites which 

 fell in Tennessee, May 9, 1827. It is given on the author- 

 ity of the Rev. Hugh Kirkpatrick. 



' On Wednesday the 9th inst. about 4 o'clock P. M., 

 the day being as clear as usual, my son and servants 

 were planting corn in the field ; they heard a report simi- 

 lar to that of cannon, which was continued in the air, 

 resembling the firing of cannon or muskets by platoons, 

 and the beating of drums as in a battle. Some small 

 clouds with a trail of black smoke, made a terrific appear- 

 ance, and from them without doubt, came a number of 

 stones with a loud whizzing noise, which struck the 

 earth with a sound like that of a ponderous body. One 

 of those stones my son heard fall about fifty yards from 

 where he was. In its descent it struck a tree, of the 

 size of a small handspike, and tore it to pieces as light- 

 ning would have done. Guided by the tree he immedi- 

 ately found the spot, and there he found the stone about 

 eight or ten inches under the ground. This stone weighed 

 five pounds and a quarter; Mr James Dugge was also 

 present. They stated that the stone was cold, but had 

 the scent of sulphur.' 



' On the same day and about the same time, Mr Peter 

 Kitsing was in the field with his laborers, about one 

 mile distant, when a stone fell which weighed eleven 

 pounds and a half. A number of respectable men were 

 present when it was found and taken up. It was twelve 

 inches under the ground. I have seen one that fell at 

 Mr David Garrett's, and part of one that fell at Mr John 

 Bones', and have also heard of one more that has been 

 found. These stones are perfectly similar, glazed with 

 a thin black crust, and bear the marks of having been 

 through a body of fire and black smoke. Many gentle- 

 men who have been incited within a few days to come 



