298 MEMOIR ON METEORITES. 



perpendicularly, or nearly so, from their points of condensa- 

 tion. And lastly, under the head of physical objections, how 

 can bodies so formed be precipitated in such very oblique direc- 

 tions as many are known to have, and that too from east to 

 west and not from the north? 



We pass on to a concise statement of some of the chemical 

 objections to this theory of atmospheric origin, and, if possible, 

 they are more insuperable than the last mentioned. Contem- 

 plate for a moment the first meteorite described in this paper. 

 Here is a mass of iron, of about sixty pounds, of a most solid 

 structure, highly crystalline, composed of nickel and iron chem- 

 ically united, containing in its center a crystalline phosphuret 

 of iron and nickel, and on its exterior surface a compound of 

 sulphur and iron also in atomic proportions, and then see if the 

 mind can be satisfied in supposing that the dust wafted from 

 the crater of a volcano into the higher regions of the atmos- 

 phere could in a few moments of time be brought together by 

 any known forces so as to create the body in question. How- 

 ever finely divided this volcanic dust might be, it can never be 

 subdivided into atoms, a state of things that must exist to 

 form bodies in atomic proportions where no agency is present 

 to dissolve or fuse the particles concerned. One other objection 

 and I am done with this theory. 



The particles of iron and nickel supposed to be ejected from 

 the volcano must pass from the heated mouth of a crater, ascend 

 through the oxygen of the atmosphere without undergoing the 

 slightest oxidation; for if there be any one thing which marks 

 the meteorites more strongly than any other it is the freedom 

 of the masses of iron from oxidation except on the surface; but 

 a still more remarkable abstinence from oxidation would be the 

 ascent of the particles of phosphorus to form the schreibersite 

 traceable in so many meteorites. Having noticed the promi- 

 nent objections to this theory, I pass on to consider, in as few 

 words as possible, the other two theories. 



A very commonly-adopted theory of the origin of meteoric 

 bodies is that they are small planetary bodies revolving around 

 the sun, one portion of their orbit approaching or crossing that 

 of the earth; and from the various disturbing causes to which 

 these small bodies must necessarily be subjected their orbits 

 are constantly undergoing more or less variation until inter- 



