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 
