277 



first, being considered sheet lightning, were only noticed from their 

 unusual colour, a deep and sombre red. At about 4^50™ a.m., how- 

 ever, these flashes constantly emerging from a dense, triangular and 

 very remarkable cloud in the S.E., which perceptibly increased in 

 size with great rapidity, he was induced to observe it with minute 

 attention. At 4^ 55™ a.m., Greenwich mean time, the cloud had 

 assumed the form of a right-angled triangle, its hypothenuse, or 

 longest side, tending east and west. At this instant he first heard a 

 singular and extraordinary hissing sound in the air, not unlike that 

 of a passing shot, which, although at first not very loud, was yet 

 clearly distinguishable above the howling of the gale. At 5 a m. the 

 cloud had nearl}^ doubled its original size, advancing steadily from 

 the S.E. in a N.W. direction, or from nearly dead to leeward, to- 

 wards the wind's eye ; v/hilst the scintillations spoken of were 

 emitted with increased rapidity. He also then first perceived in the 

 centre of the cloud, a dull, red, obscure nucleus, or fire-ball, appa- 

 rently about half the diameter of the moon, having a tail five or six 

 times that length, from which the flashes mentioned were sent forth, 

 of surpassing brilliancy, as the meteor clearly descended with great 

 velocity through the air, accompanied by a detonating, hurtling, 

 hissing sound, impossible to describe, yet resembling that which 

 precedes the shock of an earthquake. At three minutes past five 

 o'clock A.M., the meteor having apparently spanned the Channel 

 from S.E. to N.W., upon approaching the land — evidently throw- 

 ing off" portions of its substance as it passed through the atmo- 

 sphere — the nucleus suddenly exploded with a report similar to a 

 very heavy clap of thunder, giving out an intensely brilliant light, 

 which rendered the minutest objects distinctly visible, although it 

 rained violently and the sky was obscured by dark and threatening 

 clouds. The dense body of the meteorite seemed to fall in the 

 water about half a mile from the land, as indicated by a great vo- 

 lume of spray, which rose foaming in the distance. 



February 3, 1853. 

 COLONEL SABINE, R.A., Treasurer, V.P., in the Chair. 



The following letters were read : — 



Monsieur le Comte, a Berlin, ce 30 Dec. 1852. 



C'est avec la plus vive reconnaissance, je pourrais dire, avec le 

 genre d'emotion que Ton eprouve lorsqu'on obtient un succes auquel 

 on n'a pas cru devoir aspirer, que j'ai recu la raedaille Copley, le 

 grand et noble prix que la Societe Roy ale, sous le Presidence de 

 Monsieur le Comte de Rosse, a daigne m'adjuger. Cette illustre 

 Compagnie a voulu recompenser un zele ardent pour les sciences, 

 des travaux pen remarquables par leurs resultats, mais fortifies, dans 

 le cours d'une longue et laborieuse carriere, par la Constance d'une 

 courageuse assiduite. En vous suppliant, Monsieur le Comte, de 



