in the state of Delaware, JVbi'. 2i, 1819. 2U7 



Mars and the softer light of the moon. The whole appearance 

 was sublime beyond description. At about 80^ from the zenith 

 westward, it began rapidly to decline, and in two seconds became 

 to appearance extinct ; its tail in the mean time lengthening to 10° 

 or 15% forming a narrow red streak of evanescent fire. About 

 three minutes after it had disappeared^ a noise was heard resem- 



» 



terly 



In the same pap 



made at 



V 



a place li mile S. E. from Wilmington. " k very bright meteor 

 was seen to pass over this place Nov. SI, 1819, at 20' before 7 

 P. M. It arose from the N. E. and travelled in a direction S. W. 

 leaving a tail of fire behind it, which marked its path through the 

 heavens for a very considerable distance. Its size was equal to 

 that of the moon, its shape that of a blazing torch, and its rapidi- 

 ty such as to pass through our zenith in about 80 seconds. Its 

 first appearance was marked by a quantity of falling sparks ; tlie 

 same phenomenon preceded its exit, and two minutes after losing 

 sight of it, a rumbling noise, like distant and protracted peals of 

 thunder, was heard for upwards of 00 seconds, in the direction of 

 its flight. Its brilliancy was such, and such the light produced by 

 it, that it was equal to that of the sun when just emerging from the 

 liorizon. The greatest light was obtaiucd tweatj degrees after 

 its passage across our meridian. Ohservatiaus made ia WiU 

 mington do not make its parallax very sensible, which shows its 

 height to be at least twenty miles. Its disappearance was at 

 about 25° above our horizon.'' 



3. The observations at Baltimore (lat. 3^ i7' long. 76° 37') 

 obtained by an obliging friend (about two months after the ap- 

 pearance of the meteor) from a gentleman of observation and intel- 



