Miscellanies. 403 



the surface. From its great specific gravity, he was induced to ex- 

 amine more particularly, and thinking it might be iron he carried it to 

 his blacksmith, who, finding it iron, had worked up the most of it into 

 horse-shoes, nails, &c, as the farmer needed. The latter told me that 

 he had seen several small specimens of what appeared to be similar, 

 whilst plowing the same field, but a diligent search made by me at 

 the time proved fruitless in discovering any other specimens, the field 

 being at that time in meadow. 



" It was the opinion of Prof. Hadley, on the first examination, that 

 it was of meteoric origin. Why it was not completely buried in falling, 

 may be accounted for by the fact, that the ground on which it was 

 found was hard and strong. Yours, &c. E. Pierce." 



Measures have been taken to secure as much of this interesting mass 

 as can now be obtained, for the mineralogical collection in Yale College. 



B. Silliman, Jr. 



Yale College Laboratory, March 20, 1844. 



2. Improvements in Cambridge, England. — We are permitted to 

 mention the following facts, in the language of Prof. Adam Sedgwick, 

 contained in a letter, dated May 2, 1843, and addressed to Prof. Ro- 

 meo Elton, late of Brown University, Rhode Island. 



" The Cambridge Philosophical Society continues to flourish, although 

 with perhaps less vigor, since Prof. Airy, now Astronomer Royal, ceased 

 to live amongst us. It has published seven volumes, which (without van- 

 ity) I may be allowed to praise ; as of late years I have not been a 

 contributor to them. We rejoice to be in communication with men and 

 societies of pursuits similar to our own. Seventeen years have made a 

 great change, at least in our external appearance ; and should we again 

 have the pleasure of seeing you in Cambridge, we could I trust show 

 you much that is both neW and interesting. We have now a noble mu- 

 seum of comparative anatomy, and a geological museum worthy of 

 the University, at the growth of which I do greatly rejoice, as I re- 

 gard it as my own child and offspring. The Fitzwilliam museum, 

 chiefly devoted to the fine arts, painting, sculpture, antiquities and works 

 of literary luxury, is now nearly finished and is externally a noble work 

 of architecture. Time has made sad inroads on my health and strength ; 

 I have some works on hand which I now almost despair of finishing, 

 and I give up all hopes of a tour in North America, with which I long 

 delighted to indulge my fancy." 



May heaven grant to this noble explorer of nature, and eloquent com- 

 mentator on her works, restored health, long protracted usefulness and 

 honor ; and the power as well as the disposition to cross the Atlantic ; for, 

 no foreign philosopher would be greeted with a more cordial welcome', 

 and with more zealous and efficient aid in his scientific explorations. 



