CHAP. 3. 1. OF METEORS. 123 



If the Meteors in question be caused by the 

 ignition of combustible exhalations, it may be 

 easily supposed that they would vary in appear- 

 ance, according to the peculiarities of the 

 exhaled gas. Neither is it more difficult to 

 suppose varieties in these exhalations, than to 

 suppose their existence at all. The columns of 

 gas might vary in size at different times, and 

 so give place to Meteors of divers magnitudes. 

 The greater the quantity of the exhaled gas, 

 the less likely would it be to be wholly dispersed 

 by the wind: it might, therefore, be carried 

 along horizontally for miles; and, at length 

 taking fire by dry ness of the air, by electricity, 

 or by other causes, might give place to such 

 large, irregular, and horizontally moving Me- 

 teors, which appear at uncertain intervals, and 

 travel over vast tracts of country. But this 

 seems to be rather an ingenious hypothesis of 

 M. De Luc, than a theory founded on facts. 



There are two circumstances about Meteors, 



in a direction to the West: its motion was not regular in a 

 straight line, nor in a uniform curve ; but it leaped forward 

 by successive jerks, describing a sort of undulated track ; 

 and it was of considerable magnitude : after being visible for 

 some seconds, it apparently entered a cloud, and disappeared. 

 The circumstance of its peculiar motion is, I think, worthy 

 of record. f 



