389 Miscellanies. 



showers with that of 1833, that they should be of the same magni- 

 tude with that. A small eclipse 1 have considered a phenomenon 

 of the same kind with a large one ; and, conformably to this analo- 

 gy, I have regarded an eclipse of the sun, first exhibiting itself as a 

 slight indentation of the solar limb, but increasing in magnitude at 

 every recurrence, until it becomes total, and afterwards, at each re- 

 turn, but partially covering the solar disk, until the moon passes 

 quite clear of the sun, — as affording no bad illustration of what proba- 

 bly takes place in regard to these meteoric showers. The fact that 

 the Aurora Borealis appears unusually frequent and magnificent for 

 a few successive years, and then for a long time is scarcely seen at 

 all, was proved by Mairan, a hundred years ago.* There is much 

 reason to suspect a like periodical character in the phenomenon in 

 question, which first arrested attention in 1831, became more re- 

 markable in 1832, arrived at its maximum in 1833, and has since 

 grown less and less at each annual return. Some seem to suppose 

 that we are now warranted in expecting a similar exhibition of me- 

 teors on the morning of every future anniversary ; but this, I think, is 

 not to be expected. It is perhaps more probable, that its recur- 

 rence, unless in a very diminished degree, will scarcely be witnessed 

 again by the present generation. The shower, however, at its late 

 return, was more striking than 1 had anticipated ; and it miist be ac- 

 knowledged to be adventurous, to enter the region of prediction 

 respecting the future exhibitions of a phenomenon, both whose ori- 

 gin and whose laws w^e so imperfectly understand. 



But it is time to present the reader with the evidence of the re- 

 turn of the meteoric shower on the late anniversary. 



Accounts of observations before us show, that the meteoric shower 

 was seen in most of the Atlantic States from Maine to South Caro- 

 lina. We will begin on the north. 



I. Observations made at Springvale, Maine. Extract of a 

 letter from Samuel Dunster, Esq., Agent of the Franklin Manu- 

 facturing Comjjany. 



" I requested the watchman at our manufacturing establishment to 

 call me, if any thing of interest occurred. He accordingly called 

 me at about a quarter before three o'clock, [on the morning of Nov. 

 13th.] At three o'clock 1 began to count the meteors, and num- 

 bered as follows. 



* Traite Phys. et Hist, de L'Aurore Bor6ale. Par M. De Mairan.— Memoirs 

 of the Roj'eil Academy of Sciences for 1731. 



