49 2 Theory of Igneous Meteors. [Book V. 



jt is left doubtful, from the imperfect ftate of the re- 

 Jations. 



Notwithflanding the Doctor's ingenious arguments, 

 I cannot, on my own part, fubfcribc to the opinion, 

 that thefe phenomena are altogether electrical. The 

 duration of the fire-bal], the unequal confiflency of the 

 mafs, and feveral other points in the narration, feem 

 to indicate that its materials were of a lefs rare and 

 evanefcent nature than the electric fire. The union of 

 phofphorus and hydrogen in the atmofphere, will fuf- 

 ciently account for the inflammation of thefe mafies of 

 volatile matter, and their colour will depend .on the 

 nature of the composition, as is plain from what has 

 t>een faid upon the fubject of the fire-worjcs producoj 

 from inflammable air *. 



One inftance more ,of this kind of phenomena I 

 (hall beg leave to mention, particularly as it differs in 

 many refpects from the preceding; and from its dura- 

 tion, and the ftrong fmell which attended the explofion, 

 in feems not to have been the effect of "electricity. 



On board the Montague, under the command of 

 Admiral Chambers, in lat. 42 48'. long. 9 3'. on the 

 4th of November 1749, about ten minutes before 

 twelve, as the author, Mr. Chalmers, was taking an 

 observation, one of the quarter- mailers defired he 

 would look to the windward. On directing his eye 

 that way, he obferved a large ball of blue fire about 

 three miles diftance from them j they immediately 

 lowered the topfails, but it came fo faft upon them, 

 that before they could raife the main-tack, they ob- 

 ferved ''the ball rife almoft perpendicularly, and not 

 nbove forty or fifty yards from the main chains, when 

 it went off with an explofion as great as if hundreds of 

 cannon hr.J been difcharged at the fame time, leaving 

 behind it a ftrong fulphureous fineil. By this t'xplo- 

 * i:ec Chap. V. 



' f,.jh 



