122 Dr. J, Stenhouse on Amido-derivatives of Orcin. [Jan. 23, 



IV. "Account of a Meteor that fell on the ' Seven Stones'' Light- 

 ship/' in a Letter from the Secretary to the Corporation of the 

 Trinity House, addressed to the President. Received January 

 9, 1873. 



Trinity House, London, E.C., 9th January, 1873. 

 Sir, — I am directed to acquaint you that on the 13th of November 

 last, at 2 a.m., a meteor burst against the ' Seven Stones ' light-vessel 

 belonging to this Corporation, and moored about 9-J- miles E. by N. of the 

 Scilly Islands ; and that it has been reported that the watch were struck 

 senseless for a short period, seeing nothing before the shock, but that, on 

 recovery, balls of fire like large stars were falling in the water like splendid 

 fireworks, and that the decks were covered with cinders, which crushed 

 under the sailors' feet as they walked. It appeared, the men said, as if 

 something was passing swiftly and met with the obstruction of the vessel 

 and burst. 



The superintendent reports that the men say there was a very decided 

 smell of brimstone, but add that they did not mention that until he asked 

 them. There is reason to fear that the cinders were all washed off the 

 decks by the rain and sea before daylight ; and it happened also unfortu- 

 nately that the men did not think to observe the compasses. 



The Elder Brethren have great doubts whether any more accurate 

 account of the phenomenon than the foregoing is obtainable ; at the same 

 time they direct me to report the matter to you, conjoined with the assurance 

 that if any important or interesting scientific question is likely to be 

 elucidated by further inquiry, they will have great pleasure in causing 

 special questions to be put to the men, or in affording any member of the 

 Royal Society facilities for investigation. 



I am, Sir, 



Tour most humble Servant, 



Sir G. B. Airy, K.C.B., 6fc. fyc. Robin Allen, Secretary. 



January 23, 1873. 

 T. ARCHER HIRST, Ph.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



I. " Contributions to the History of the Orcins. — No. III. Amido- 

 derivatives of Orcin"*. By John Stenhouse, LL.D., F.R.S., 

 &c. Received November 7, 1872. 



In a paper published in March 1871f , I stated that I had made some 

 experiments on the action of reducing agents on trinitro-orcinic acid and 



* A preliminary note on this subject appeared in the ' Chemical News,' vol. xxiii. 

 p. 292, and Zeits. Chem. vol. vii. p. 414. 

 f Proc. Koy. Soc. vol. xix. p. 410. 



