On a Mass of Meteoric Iron. 



401 



and put on record all the incidents relating to this specimen, 

 which I was inclined to think might turn out to be a mass of 

 Meteoric Iron. A hammer was got, and one of its corners 

 was slightly abraded ; this showed the pure metal of which 

 it seemed to be composed ; and its great weight, as compared 

 with its size, proved that it must consist almost entirely of 

 metal ; it was therefore no ore of iron. While its peculiar 

 shape was totally unlike that of any kind of manufactured 

 metal — for its hardness, and closeness of grain, suggested that 

 it resembled hammered iron, or steel ; the district however, 

 was no iron-producing one, and forges of greater size than that 

 of the village blacksmith were quite unknown, and its history 

 pointed to a period probably long before historic times. I 

 was therefore convinced the specimen was native iron ; and 

 from the very great rarity of this metal in any quantity, and 

 the fact of its being found buried in the clay bank, there 

 appeared to be little doubt it was of meteoric origin. Stat- 

 ing my conclusions to Mr Burnet, and my anxiety to get 

 possession of the iron for a more careful and decisive exami- 

 nation, he kindly agreed to let me have it for this purpose. 

 Accordingly, it was arranged it should be immediately for- 

 warded to my residence, that I might take it with me on my 

 return to Edinburgh, for a complete determination of its true 

 character and peculiarities. On mentioning to Mr Burnet my 

 astonishment that no person had ever called attention to this 

 very singular-looking piece of metal, the true character of 

 which had been so long overlooked, I was informed that, some 

 three or four years before, the Rev. Dr Rogers of Stirling, when 

 on a visit to Newstead in search of Roman remains, among 

 other things had examined it, and seemed to take a somewhat 

 similar view to mine of its origin ; but nothing having been 

 said or done to settle the apparently very doubtful question, 

 Mr Burnet had thought no more about the matter. 



On bringing the mass to Edinburgh, it was shown to vari- 

 ous friends, who at once agreed with me there was little 

 doubt of its meteoric character. With Mr Alexander Bryson 

 and Dr M'Bain's kind assistance, an abrasion was made on 

 its surface, and the nitric acid test applied, when a slight 

 appearance of the peculiar and characteristic etching became 



