130 REPORT — 1866. 



more brilliant than the moon when seen in the day. Its flight was not rapid*, 

 and its motion smooth and regular, gliding as a heavy body might be sup- 

 posed to do. It was attended by a very short train, which i-apidly died out 

 and appeared to form a point behind. No noise or explosion was heard. Its 

 path was very slightly curved ; but I think there is no dependence to be placed 

 on this. The day was fine, but the sky was partially obscured by large bright 

 floating clouds, high above which was a stratum of a different kind — cirrus 

 probably. The sun shone very clearly and warm at intervals, but for a few 

 days previously we have had strong west winds. 



I am, &c., E. Covington. 

 Ticeliurst ScJioolhouse, June 20th, 1866. 

 To A. S. Hersehel, Esq. 



4. As seen at Boulogne. 



To the Editor of the ' Times.' 



Sir, — I was at Boulogne this morning at 11 o'clock (Paris time), when an 

 explosion followed by a low and continued rumbling was heard in the Hotel 

 des Bains, where I was then staying. The people in the house ran in alarm 

 from their rooms into the courtyard, asking one another what had happened ; 

 then observing through the gateway that similar crowds were also collecting 

 in the street and by the harbour, and were equally puzzled as to the source 

 of the noise, I went out and found myself in ample time to see the long, 

 naiTow, smoke-like train of a meteor hanging in the sky. The final puff' that 

 indicated the place of explosion was marked Avith perfect distinctness, but the 

 point where the train fiji'st commenced was hidden from my view by a block 

 of houses. I leisurely noted the necessarj' bearings, and then, running to my 

 room, returned with a small travelling " altazimuth " I had by me, and 

 measured them. The results were : — for the first point in the train that I 

 could see, altitude 62°, magnetic azimuth (E. from N.) Qb° ; for the final 

 puff, altitude 40°, magnetic azimuth (E. from N.) 195°. 



I doubt the error in any of these observations exceeding one degree ; I feel 

 sure it does not exceed two degrees. The average breadth of the train of 

 smoke was about one degree. A comparison of these measurements with any 

 set taken elsewhere — and doubtless you wiU receive some other communica- 

 tions — will at least indicate the path of the meteor, and will accurately fix 

 its height above the earth at the time of explosion. 



(Signed) Francis Galton. 



London, June 20th. 



5. As seen in France. (From the ' Morning Advertiser,' June 26th.) 



The meteor described as having shot through the clouds over Folkstone on 

 the 20th June, flamed amazement through all the toAvns in the northern 

 deiiartmeut of France. It crossed over Boulogne, Calais, Hazobrook, Aire, 

 Lilies, Bombourg and other places, and ultimately burst over St. Omer with 

 an explosion like the roar of artillery. The peaceful inhabitants imagined 

 an explosion of the neighbouring powder-magazines at Esquades. It is 

 known to have exploded between the towns of Boulogne and St. Omer; 

 but, though dUigent search has been made, none of the fragments have been 

 discovered. 



* One boy, who saw tbe meteor from first to last, was asked to point with a stick towards 

 the place whence it appeared to him to move. Moving the stick as the meteor appeared 

 to him to do, the time in which he described the whole course of the meteor's flight, up to 

 the point of disappearance, was 3j seconds. 



