Observations on the Shooting Stars of August, 1844. 317 



In spite of the apparent hopelessness of the case here, a corps 

 of observers (consisting of Messrs. F. Bradley, E. Norton, E. A. 

 Raymond, Wm. M. Smith, and Wm. J. Weeks) took their sta- 

 tions on the summit of the State Hospital in this city, intending 

 to remain until dawn. Their perseverance received its reward, 

 in part at least, as the following results will prove. Four only 

 were on duty at once as observers ; and the meteors were reck- 

 onecP in the quadrant in which they were first detected. Up to 

 llh. 20m. the sky was wholly overcast. 



Aug. 9. llh. 20m. to midn. 



Midnight to Ih. a. m. (10th,) N. 25 



Ih. to 2h., 



2h. to 3h., 



The evening of the 10th was wholly overcast, up to 10 o'clock 

 at least, and the prospect of any change in the weather was so 

 slender that the watch was abandoned. The next morning I 

 ascertained that the clouds dispersed sometime after midnight. 

 As a partial supply of the deficiency, we have a letter addressed 

 to the Editors, by Prof S. R. Williams, giving his observations 

 during four and a half hours, ending 1 a. m. of the 11th. The 

 letter will be found further on. 



Vol. XLviii, No. 2.— Jan.-March, 1845. 41 



