336 On the Meteors of 13th November, 1833. 
the meteors, no reason can be given why the meteors, if they were 
self luminous, should not have been seen to commence their flight 
at the very origin itself, or in its vicinity; or, at least (if the thought 
should occur that the origin may have been too distant to admit of 
such small bodies: producing impressions on the retina at the instant 
of their departure from it) why they should not have been seen as 
minute points swelling gradually into magnitude and brightning grad- 
ually into brilliance ;—whereas the fact was observed to be that none 
except the meteors of very short and gentle flights, started in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the radiant—and not one, directly at the radiant, 
excepting now and then a motionless meteor that disappeared at the 
point where it was first discovered: and, in place of the meteors 
swelling gradually on the sight, the fact was observed to be that each 
in its own place was suddenly lighted up, as if an opake body in the 
act of rapid motion, had instantly become intensely brilliant. Nor 
if the meteors were self-luminous, can any reason be given (ei- 
ther in case the point of apparent divergence was the real origin 
or an imaginary radiant) why the meteors which were largest and 
most luminous, among those which traversed any given part of the 
visible heavens, were not discerned in general the farthest back in 
their path and nearest to the radiant ;—whereas the fact was observ- 
ed to be, that the largest and most luminous meteors started into 
view at every distance from the radiant, promiscuously with the mi- 
nutest points. Ino fact the most brilliant meteor which the writer saw 
on the morning of the 13th, blazed into view as far as 90° from the 
radiant, having an altitude of 20°, or perhaps a little more, and an 
azimuth of N. 15° W.; falling vertically down to the tops of the 
hills which were about 4° elevated, where its train tapered toa point. 
It was a fiery ball of a deep red color, and perhaps 6’ in diameter 
when divested of the glare which made its appearance full as large 
as 10’, and it travelled down the sky with majestic rapidity, car- 
rying an impression of united force and splendor. Its track was 
marked by a train of uniform breadth, but little exceeding that of 
the ball, and of the same deep color, excepting that it was prismatie 
in its tints—certainly near the point where the meteor seemed to be 
expiring. The general aspect of the phenomenon was the same as 
if a column of glowing melted metal had been poured down from the 
spot whence the meteor issued.* ; 
* From what is now known respecting the height and magnitude of one of these 
brilliant bodies it is probable that this very meteor which has been thus described, 
