Chap, i i.] Fatting Stzrs. 49-5 



fion the main-topmaft was (battered in pieces, and 

 the main mad fcnt quite down to the keel. Five 

 men were knocked .down, and one of them was greatly 

 bruifed, and fome other damage of lefs importance was 

 done to the (hip. Juft before the explofion, the ball 

 fcemed to be of the fize of a large millftone. 



The fhooting or falling ftar is a common pheno- 

 menon, but though fo frequently obferved, the great 

 diftance, and the tranfient nature of thefe meteors, 

 added to the entire confumption of their materials *, 

 have hitherto fruftrate-d every attempt to afccrtain their 

 caufe. It is, however, reafonable to fuppofe, thac they 

 are intrinficaliy the fame with the larger meteors, as in 

 mo ft of their properties they perfectly correfpond with 

 them. If the larger meteors are formed from any 

 mixture or combination of inflammable air with phof- 

 phorus, or any other fubftance, the fhooting flars are 

 probably the fame. If, on the contrary, the larger 

 meteors are electrical, there is equal reafon for fuppof- 

 ing the fmaller ones to proceed from the fame caufe. 

 Some philoibphers, indeed, reprefent both as mafies of 

 electricity, at fo great a diftance that their angular ve- 

 locity is not fufficient to prevent the eye from ciifcern- 

 ing their fhape. There are, however, three reafons 

 which Operate againft this hypothefis. ift, The height 

 of thefe meteors is frequently above that to which 

 clouds afcend, and clouds are the common atmofphe- 

 rical conductors of electricity. idly, They do not 

 proceed from a cloud, as flames of lightning uniformly 

 do. And, jdly, There is no noife refembling that 

 of thunder at their firfc emiffion or appearance j the 



* It is a vulgsr notion, that the fmall mafles of white jelly, 

 which are forneumes found in the fields, are produced from the 

 falling ftars, and it is called ftar jelly. This jelly, however, i.3 

 the excrement of the heron, bittern, or fome animal of the crane 

 kind, which feed on aquatic animals, and have peculiar organs of 

 digeftion. 



ncife 



