200 Miscellanies. 
10. Another case of the Spontaneous Combustion of Virginia 
Coal.—In the month of October, 18387, two thousand bushels of 
Richmond Coal which had been deposited for some time under a 
shed on Mr. Lawrence’s wharf, in New London, Conn., became ig- 
nited. ‘The coal surrounded a post which supported the front part 
of an open shed. Smoke was discovered issuing from the mass, and 
on the removal of the coal, the post was found charred. The timely 
discovery of the fire prevented the extensive ponlagvauer of con- 
tiguous wooden buildings. 
11. Meteor. et 
Rochester, (N. H.) August 7, 1837. 
Pror. Smuman.—Dear Sir—You have probably seen some 
account of the meteor that appeared in this region on Wednesday 
the 5th ult. I had the: satisfaction of seeing it myself as I was 
walking in the street betwixt seven and eight o’clock in the evening. 
It first made its appearance from behind a dark cloud, a little to the 
southwest of this place, and flashed along through the heavens with, 
great majesty and splendor. Its course was to the north, or a little 
northwest, inclining to the horizon. Its elevation above the horizon 
‘was about thirty degrees. Its size was about that of the sun in its 
zenith, and its color that of iron heated to whiteness. It was visible 
about a minute and exploded, as it was passing out of sight. Many 
fragments fell from it, throwing out an intense light of beautiful colors. 
Many say they heard a report as of distant cannon, though I did 
not. A long track was left behind it of a grayish color, which con- 
tinued waving and expanding for s some minutes and then vanished 
gradually away. : 
This meteor seems to me to confirm the truth of the remarks you 
, made to our class* about the nature of such bodies; that they.are 
not aerial concretions, nor volcanic, nor lunar ejections, nor fragments 
of a broken planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter; but 
terrestrial comets. 
12. Improved mode of constructing Magnets.—A paper was read 
before the Royal Society of London, at a late meeting, “on an im- 
proved mode of constructing magnets,” by James Cunningham, Esq. 
The material recommended by the author for the most economical, 
as well as effectual method of constructing magnets, is cast iron, 
* The writer was a pupilin Yale College. 
