A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 155 
_ not only from the meteoric mass itself, but also from the particles of air which 
it drives in every direction from its passage. As such a chemical action must 
be attended with a development of heat and light, it is not surprising that 
meteorites are luminous before reaching the confines of the air, and that their 
brilliancy is exhibited on a gigantic scale when their paths are almost parallel 
_ to the horizon.”—(p. 93.) 
In further illustration of these views, and to correct some misapprehension 
which has existed respecting them, it will be desirable here to add an extract 
of a letter to Prof. Powell from Mr. Daniel Vaughan. 
“‘ Cincinnati, Ohio, October 9, 1858. 
___ “TI deem it necessary to offer an explanation of the main point of my theory, 
as the idea I have endeavoured to convey in relation to it has not been cor- 
rectly understood. I therefore take the liberty to say, that I do not regard 
_ meteoric light as due to the presence of a luciferous atmosphere belonging to 
_ the meteorite itself; for I cannot believe that any appreciable quantity of 
ether or of inflammable gas could be confined around such small bodies, or 
retained by their feeble attractive power after they come in conflict with the 
_ air. On the contrary, I have maintained that the light arises from the atmo- 
_ sphere of luciferous ether, which envelopes the earth and which is rendered 
luminous by the powerful compression of meteorites as they move through it 
with immense velocities. 
_ “Tn obedience to the law of gravity, the ether of space must be condensed 
about all the large planets; but it must undergo the greatest condensation 
at the surface of the sun. On this vast body the density is sufficiently great 
to admit an incessant chemical action, giving rise to an unfailing development 
of heat and light; whereas, in the luciferous envelope of a planet, the same 
_ phenomenon cannot be expected, except on the fall of meteoric masses. Of 
the extent to which the compression of the ether is increased by falling me- 
teorites some idea may be collected from the fact, that a body flying near the 
earth’s surface at the rate of 20 miles a second, would impart to the air a 
pressure of 150,000 pounds to the square inch, or over ten thousand times 
the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere. We may therefore conclude that 
the etherial atmospheres of the several planets must display its illuminating 
_ power around the meteoric body, where it is compressed as intensely as it is 
on the sun’s surface. 
“ A certain degree of compression or density being necessary for chemical 
action in the ether which maintains solar light, it cannot manifest its light- 
producing energy in the wide domains of space, nor even on the planets, except 
in the rare cases of meteoric falls; and it must make the largest spheres 
above the theatres of its luminous action. My theory, therefore, not only 
accounts for the fact that the planets are not self-luminous, but also gives 
intelligence of the vast size of the fixed stars DANIEL VAUGHAN.” 
Mr. Vaughan has given some account of his views to the British Associa- 
tion, 1857; sce Sectional Proceedings, p. 42: also in some Essays published 
‘in 1853 and 1854, and in an article in the American Journal of Science and 
Art for May 1855. 
No. 2.—The subjoined extraordinary statement is copied from the ‘ Times’ 
of Dec. 4. It bears the appearance of a simple straightforward account of 
fact, the nature of which seems difficult to conjecture. It is here inserted 
simply in the hope of attracting attention, and that in time some light may 
be thrown upon it by other observations. 
g M2 ‘ 
