Miscellaneous Intelligence. 435 
Smithsonian Institution, for the purpose of observing the phenomena of 
the total eclipse,of the sun of Sept. 7, 1858. The means for defraying 
the wa of the’ expedition were liberally furnished by William Wheel- 
wright, Esq., of Newburyport, Mass. We are gratified to hear that Lieut. 
Gilles accomplished successfully the objects of the witness wom we 
await with more than common interest the report of his observ 
6. Shooting Stars of Aug. 9-10, 1858—The annual exhibition of an 
unusual number of slashing stars about the 10th of August, was this 
year -hid from view at New Haven by clouds. The observations below 
given show, a that the August meteoric display appeared this 
0 on the “ona 
1.) Mr. Francis "Bradle ey, watching alone, while passing oo — 
port, Iowa, to usc Ill., observed shooting stars as follows, 
Aug. 9, from 104 45™ p.m. to 12h - Spares F 
ae. a 8 « 1 a.m. (10th), 28 
«A, A ee EOE 
“ “ “a 7 “ 3 10 “ » 68 
Up to about : o'clock he could command only about one-sixth part of 
the sky, and during the last hour — one-fourth or one-fifth. The 
radiant as usual was in or near Pers 
(2.) Prof. A. C. Twining, * Cleveland, Ohio, watching alone, ob- 
served shooting stars as follows, 
Aug. 10, 02 5™ to 2h 5m A. m., 56, of which 48 were conformable and 
8 unconformable. These observations and the fo lowing, were 
made within 30° of are all around the radiant. 
Aug. 10, 88 0™ to yb p.m, 11 conformable, and 2 unconformable ; 
the trains long and conspicuous. Radiant had obvi viously 
shifted to the West and South. 
“11, 14 7™ to 1h 52™ 4. m., 26 conformable and 3 unconformable. 
" Sky overcast in patches, and hazy as yesterday. 
& 12, 2b 15% to 3h 15™ a.m, 30 conformable and 3 unconform- 
able. very clear. 
“18, 1h 30" > 3h a.m., 20 conformable and 10 unconformable. 
Sky clea 
“14, 3h ters to 4h 47m 4, u., 5 conformable and 5 unconformable. 
ca Sky clear. 
On each occasion the place of the radiant was noted, but can not be 
ber, Horary number, 
Roo me ecteug ri 
ceae yee 4 aS 9 to li 39°3 
19 to 21, . « 12, ’ 384) 
August 1 to 5, 
bien the years since esieé tions began, he finds that since 1848, 
the number has regularly agree the number then was 110 in place 
of 39°3 of this year. Taking the mean for the three years 1849, 1850, 
