376 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 
Prof. Bache stated, that along with Messrs. Walker, Kendall, Cresson, 
Frazer, and a pupil of the High School, he had watched for meteors or 
shooting stars, at the High School, on the nights of Nov. 12-18, and 
13-14, and met with the usual negative results of the observations before 
made in Philadelphia. : 
Dr. Horner called attention to the noise and shock observed about 9 
o'clock on Saturday evening last, (Nov. 14,) which»were supposed by 
some to be those of an earthquake. Judge Hopkinson referred to a state- 
ment, that the phenomena were supposed to be produced by the explo- 
sion of a near meteor. Mr. Nicklin mentioned facts, which induced him 
to think there had been a slight shock of an earthquake at the time men- 
tioned. Dr. Chapman and Mr. Cresson attributed the rumbling noise and 
shock to thunder. Dr. Chapman had noticed a flash of lightning near 
the horizon, which was followed by thunder. Mr. Cresson had noted an 
interval of nearly two minutes between the flash of lightning and the clap 
of thunder. 
Prof. Henry described an apparatus for producing a reciprocating mo- 
tion by the repulsion in the consecutive parts of a conductor, through 
which a gale anie Mbirene is passing; and made some remarks in refer- 
ence to the electro-magnetic machine invented by him in 1829, and sub- 
sequently described by Dr. Ritchie, of London. The machine referred 
to had been applied recently by Prof. Henry in his experiments. 
Prof. Bache communicated an extract of a letter from Prof. Rimker, 
director of the observatory of Hamburg, which contained the results of his 
observations of Galle’s first comet, and occultations observed in April, 
May, June, and August, 1840. 
Dec. 4—The committee, consisting of Mr. Richards, Dr. Ludlow, and 
Mr. G. M. Wharton, on a communication of Prof. Forshey, of Natchez, 
containing a description of the great mound near Washington, Adams 
county, Mississippi, reported favorably of the same, and expressee the 
hope, that the author might be enabled to prosecute farther examinations, 
‘the result of which, with his enlightened commentaries, would furnish 
a most acceptable addition to the Transactions of the Society.” 
The mound, described by Professor Forshey, is found about nine miles 
north-east from the city of Natchez, Mississippi, upon the most elevated 
portion of that comparatively low and level region. It is approached on 
all sides by a slope. The elevation of its base above the mean level of 
the waters of the Mississippi, at Natchez, is estimated at 265 feet, and the 
greatest height of the mound above the earth, 84 feet. The whole eleva- 
tion above the waters of the river 348 feet, giving to the spectator @ clear 
horizon of 150 degrees, embracing, in that flat region, arich and extended 
prospect. 
- The mound is an irregular artificial elevation of earth, vary ing, 
general line, from 40 to 46 feet in height, and encloses an area 0 
in its 
