204 Dr. Bracpen’ s Account of 
far from Paee. where, as ell as at Calais and Oftend; it 
was thought to be vertical. Afterwards it was feen at Bruffels; 
Paris, and Nuits in Burgundy *, ftill holding on its courfe to 
the fouthward; nay, I have met with an intimation, though of: 
doubtful authority +, that it was perceived at Rome. Our in 
formation of its progrefs over the continent is, indeed, very 
defeGtive and obfcure; neverthelefs, I think, we have fufficient. 
proof that it traverfed in all 13 or 14 degrees of latitude; de- 
{eribing a track of 1000 miles at leaft over the furface of ‘the 
earth; a length of courfe far exceeding the utmoft that = 
been hitherto afcertained of any fimilar phenomenon. 
To adduce the different accounts from which this path is. 
determined, would not only be infufferably tedious, but con- 
trary to the intention of this letter, which is to give a fum- 
mary view of the whole. They are contained partly in letters. 
and partly in the different news-papers of England and Scot- 
land, moft of which have been perufed for this purpofe. The 
information derived from the news-papers, however incorrect 
in the detail, is brought to fome degree of certainty by the 
check of comparing them with one another; and their fre= 
quent publication in moft places of confequence in this ifland, 
procures us advantages on the occafion of fuch extraordinary 
phenomena, not enjoyed in former ages, nor even now, to. 
the like extent, in any other part of the world. 
It feems fcarcely more interefting to trace the path of thefe 
bodies with minute precifion, than it would be to mark the 
progrefs of a cloud’s fhadow upon the ground; but it is of 
confequence to their theory to afcertain well the direGion of 
their courfe; and their deviations from a ftraight line, as im- 
plying fome particular caufe, fhould be carefully noticed. 1 
* Journ. de Paris, Aout 24, 1783. | 
q Paxxer’s General Advertifer, October 7, 1783. 
have 
