ox LUMINOUS PHENOMENA. 83 



(Icr that had just happeneci, they saw on a sudden a ball of 



fire between them, at about a foot distance from one of 



them. Th.-^y described It to have been about the size of a 



sixpenny loaf, and surrounded with dark smoke; that it 



burst with an exceedin^^ loud noise, like the firino: of many 



cannon at once; and that they perceived a disa-rreeable a fireballia a 



smell, resembling that of sulijhur, vitriol, and that of many ^°°^ 



other minerals in fusion. One of them was exceedingly 



hurt. As soon as he was struck he sunk in his chair, but 



■was not stunned ; his face was blackened, and his feature? 



distorted; his body was burned in several places, small holes 



were made in his clothes, and he lost in some measure the 



use of his legs for two or three days. He is positive he saw 



the ball of fire in the room for a second or two after he was 



struck. He also saw after the explosion a great quantity of 



fire of dilFerent colours, vibrating backwards and forwards 



in the room, with a most extraordinary swift motion. This 



might perhaps be an affection of his sight. 



Mr. Field, a painter of Trowbridge, during the storm, seen before its 

 observed a ball of fire vibrate backwards and forwards over "^^^''"^• 

 some part of Steeple Ashton, and at last dart down perpen- 

 dicularly. This was in all probability the same ball as was 

 seen to burst in the parlour of the vicarage-house- 



A body of fire was also seen during the same storm mov- Another in the 

 ing towards a house, at some distance from the house ^f ^^'^le si.orm. 

 Mr. Paradise, which changed its direction and passed 

 through the last house, and afterwards burst with a prodi- 

 gious explosion. Mr. Paradise, who was three or four feet 

 out of its line of motion, was struck against the wall, his 

 body covered with fire, and he thought for some time he 

 should have been suffocated with the smoke and smell of 

 sulphur. He escaped unhurt, and his house received no 

 damage. 



To these instances of electric matter which produced the Lisrhfning at 



effect of lightning, though its velocity was too small to pre- ^astboimic, of 



" . * t which the h- 



vent its figure beu)g perceived, may be added, the very se- gme was ob- 



vere stroke of lightning, which killed two of the servants of ^'^f'"^'^' 



Mr. Adair, at Eastbourne* in Sussex, threw himself hurt 



* Ph. Trans, vol. 71, p. 42. 



G 2 and 



