Miscellanies. 403 



without any other electrical agency, than such as was excited by im- 

 mersing the copper in the neutral chloride. 



5. Shooting Stars of December 7, 1838. — At a session of the Royal 

 Academy of Brussels, Feb. 6, 1841, M. Quetelet communicated the 

 following extract of a letter from M. A. Bravais, officer of the French 

 marine, and engaged in the French scientific expedition to the north. 



" The meteoric shower of December 7, 1838, of which Mr. Herrick 

 speaks, (report of session of Oct. 17, 1840,*) was noticed by us at Bos- 

 sekop. I am not able to state the whole number of meteors seen at 

 that time, but I well remember that nearly all diverged (apparently) 

 from the same point of the heavens, situated between the constellations 

 of Perseus, Cepheus and Andromeda, about seven o'clock in the eve- 

 ning. This point could be determined with great exactness, as we 

 noted the places of origin and extinction of each meteor. We have 

 then a phenomenon seen at the same time in New Haven, China, Eng- 

 land, North Cape, and in France, (Toulon, by M. Flaugergues,) that is, 

 over nearly all the northern hemisphere ; which argues a great extent 

 in the meteoric cloud." — Ulnstitut, No. 385, May 13, 1841. 



6. Scientific Visit of Charles Lyell, Esq. of London., to the United 

 States. — This eminent geologist and gifted writer, arrived at Boston 

 early in August with his lady. He will, by invitation, deliver a course 

 of lectures on geology in the Lowell Institute, beginning October 19, 

 and continuing through six weeks. We doubt not that this effort, sus- 

 tained, as we understand it will be, by large and splendid drawings, 

 will be worthy of the distinguished reputation of Mr. Lyell, and of the 

 interest and dignity of the science. We are gratified to learn that he 

 will spend a year in this countiy, occupied in viewing it geologically. 

 He has already visited the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New 

 York and Pennsylvania, and after the conclusion of his course of lec- 

 tures, he will proceed south for the winter, to return to the north in the 

 spring. We are happy to learn, that Mr. LyelPs impressions of the ge- 

 ological interest of this country, and of the zeal, science, and acumen 

 of its geologists, are such as will make it a pleasure to the gentlemen 

 engaged in these pursuits in our different states and territories, to facil- 

 itate his researches, which we cannot doubt will advance the common 

 cause ; while we feel assured that a social intercourse with the accom- 

 plished strangers who are now beginning to visit us in increasing num- 

 bers, will promote every good national and personal feeling. 



7. Shower of red matter like blood and muscle. — We are indebted 

 to Prof. Troost, of Nashville, Tennessee, for an interesting notice of a 



• Sec this Journal, Vol. xxxv, p. 3G1, and Vol. xxxvi, p. 355. 



