14 ,; 



fortuitous) circumstances (which happily do not very com- 

 monly combine to overwhelm us in a shower of stones), 

 may be detached by the electric fluid attracted by the iron, 

 which is known to be pure among pyrites. Thus, if we. 

 consider a part of the atmosphere surcharged with electric 

 fluid coming in contact with such a rock, a discharge would, 

 take place ; the iron would be heated to a certain depth ; the 

 opposition of damp, within the rock, would produce a rare- 

 faction of sufficient violence * to cause a great report, and 

 detach a fragment or fragments ; and the iron becoming so 

 suddenly heated must set the sulphur on fire; which, while 

 the stone was projected by the violent force necessary for 

 detaching it, would be vivified as if blown by the bellows 

 of a forge; till, the sulphur being exhausted, and the iron 

 cooled, it would fall to the ground, with the scent of sul- 

 phur remaining, and sometimes a portion of heat. As it 

 passed, a rushing noise (like the wind of forge-bellows) 

 would be heard; the stone would emit sparks; and the irre- 

 gularities would, more or less, cause pieces to fly from it, 

 with a crackling or gun-shot noise; and it might sometimes 

 have a comet-like form. The parts projected foremost 

 would be of a white heat, as the force would augment it ; 

 and the sulphur would cause flame and smoke in clouds ; 

 the sparks and detached pieces would be left behind, as it 

 passed, and appear something like the fiery tail of a comet. 

 Thus far for conjecture: time may bring the truth to light; 

 and if our travelling geologists will attend to this, I see no 

 great improbability attached to the chance of finding rocks 

 holding these substances in due proportion; and perhaps ex- 

 periments may verify the truth of this or some other con- 

 jecture, and any natural rationale will be more or less con- 

 fided in, as it agrees with the circumstances proved. Py- 

 rites, we know, are always in action, or ready to act, under 



* The fcrce cf steam is sufficiently known. 



