FIERY METEOK. gS"! 



Another friend Informs me, that he faw it from a ftatlon in Accxiunt of a 

 St. James's Park, near the Queen's Houfe, rifing above the *^'^ 'P^'^^ou 

 horizon, in the eaft towards Weftminfler-abbey, arid that it 

 paffed over St. James's Park, and part of the Green Park, 

 where it was lofl behind a cloud. He thinks it remained in 

 fight for a much longer time than two or three feconds, and 

 that it did not move in a ftraight line. The courfe by his 

 obfervation would be about W. N. W. ■ - 



Another perfon who faw it burft, fpeaks of the portions 

 falling down like the fparks of a rocket. 



That it paffed as mofl large fiery meteors feem to do, in 

 the fuperior part of our atmofphere is probable from the 

 general fadls. A gentleman on Hampftead Heath, beheld 

 ihe country fuddenly illuminated, and clearly faw Harrow 

 Steeple, which is eiglit miles diftant in a ftrait line, and it was 

 alfo feen from Dartford in Kc^nt, until it became obfcured by 

 a cloud ; but I had no further particulars refpecling it. 



Much difficulty muft arife in eftimating either the courfe, 

 diredion, or elevation of meteors of this kind, which appear 

 when totally unexpeded, and are gone before the mind can 

 enter into any courfe of reafoning or eftimate. We are fully 

 occupied with the impreflive fenfation they produce, and have 

 fcarcely any other means of obtaining a conjeflure refpefling 

 pofilions and altitude, but by repeating our obfervationr. on 

 the fpot. On this fubje6l the reader may confult an excellent 

 paper by Sir Charles Blagden in the LXXIV. volume of the 

 Philofophical Tran factions. 



The lower Iketch (liews the manner of explofion into fraaller 

 pieces. 



A Firjl 



