METEORS. 19 



the 8Un in an orbit, bearing a similarity to the orbit of our earth. 

 But the great objection to this theory is, that they move in a 

 Contrary direction to that of the earth and the other planets. 

 Another peculiarity is, that in the history of all th6 aerolites 

 contained in museums, only one was observed to fall on a 

 " star shower " date. Professor Newton, of Yale College, 

 America, also states, from observations taken with the spectro- 

 scope, that the shooting stars of November consist of more 

 inflammable material than those of other meteoric showers. 

 All these facts tend to show the improbability of an orbit of 

 meteors. 



Sir "Wm. Thomson's theory of the seed bearing meteors is 

 so improbable, and has so little apparent evidence to support it, 

 that it may be dismissed at once. "We Would, however, call 

 attention to the argument which he brings forward, to show 

 how it is possible for two worlds to have collided, and dis- 

 tributed the seeds. He says : " It is as sure that collisions must 

 occur between masses moving through space, as it is that shipt 

 steered without intelligence directed to prevent collision could not 

 cross and recross the Atlantic for thousands of years, with 

 immunity from collision." We are astonished that such a 

 student of science should have studied the mechanism of the 

 universe to so little purpose, as "not to have discovered the 

 perfection of every movement connected with the heavenly 

 bodies ; and compared with which, human action or skill is as 

 perpetual blundering. That any leader in science at the pre- 

 sent day, should consider it possible that planets, and other 

 similar bodies, are not gifted with attractive and repulsive 

 properties and atmospheres, calculated to keep them from 

 colliding; only shows how little is really discovered by scientific 



