THEIR OPJGItf PLANETARY. 



second, a velocity three or four times less than that with which 

 meteorites have been ascertained to strike the ground. 



Laplace, though not without much doubt, inclined rather to 

 the lunar than the planetary hypothesis. But at that time the 

 prodigious velocity with which aerolites traverse the terrestrial 

 atmosphere was not so well ascertained as it has been more 

 recently. 



In fine, the consideration of these great velocities, combined 

 with the great improbability of the existence of active volcanoes 

 on the moon, an improbability which has been greatly increased 

 if indeed it be not converted into an impossibility by the exten- 

 sive selenographic researches and observations of Messrs. Beer 

 and Madler, has decided the opinion of the scientific world on 

 this long-vexed questioD, and the lunar hypothesis like the 

 others has been by common consent set aside. 



13. It is, then, agreed generally, that the planetary hypothesis 

 must be taken as the true solution of the problem of the 

 aerolites. 



Taking it then to be established on satisfactory grounds that 

 aerolites are planetary bodies which the earth encounters in 

 its annual course round the sun, it remains to examine more 

 closely the peculiar circumstances which have attended their 

 appearance, so as to obtain some more exact and special 

 knowledge of them. 



We shall at once assume, what in the sequel will be abundantly 

 evident, the identity of these bodies with shooting stars. Among 

 the numerous records, ancient and modern, of remarkable 

 exhibitions of these objects, we select the following as worthy of 

 attention. 



14. According to Arabian historians, on the night of the death 

 of King Ibrahim-ben- Ahmed, in October, 902, a great fall of 

 shooting stars took place, which were described as resembling 

 " a rain of fire." 



On the night of 25th April 1095, it was recorded that in France 

 the stars were seen " falling from heaven as thick as hail" by 

 innumerable witnesses, and the terrific phenomenon was men- 

 tioned at the Council of Clermont as foreboding the great 

 movement in Christendom. 



On 19th October, 1202, stars were recorded as falling during 

 the whole night like a " shower of locusts." 



In the " Chronicon Ecclesise Pragensis," page 389, it is re- 

 oorded that on 21st October, O. S., 1366, for several hours during 

 the morning, stars were seen continually falling in such numbers 

 that no person could count them. 



15. Humboldt relates that a friend of his accustomed to exact 



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