J. Lawrence Smith on Meteorites. 335 
Soc., Jan., 1841), that astronomer makes the following remarks 
about Olbers’s change of views. “In 1836, Olbers, the original 
proposer of the theory of 1795, being firmly convinced of the cor- 
regtness of Brandes’s estimate of the relative velocity of meteors, 
renounces his selenic theory, and adopts the cossica/ theory as 
the only one which is adequate to explain the established facts be- 
fore the public.” 
phenomena of shooting stars. Had Olbers viewed the matter in 
Ist. That all meteoric masses have a community of origin. 
2nd. At one period they formed parts of some large body. 
3d. They have all been subject to a more or less prolonged 
igneous action corresponding to that of terrestrial volcanoes. 
Ath. That their source must be deficient in oxygen. 
Sth. That their average specific gravity is about that of the 
moon 
From what has been said under the head of common charac- 
that at one period or another has cast them forth ? The latter it 
Seems are the only opinion that can be entertained in re- 
ee canis ae cases character of the minerals composing 
Meteorites, nothing remains to be added to what has already 
