170 Mr. Howard’s Experiments and Observations 
Dr. Chladni, in his Observations on the Mass of Iron found 
in Siberia , and on other Masses of the like Kind, as well as in 
his Observations on Fire-balls and hard Bodies fallen from the 
Atmosphere, has collected almost every modern instance of 
phenomena of this nature. 
Mr. Southey relates an account, juridically authenticated, of 
* 
a stone weighing to lbs. which was heard to fall in Portugal, 
Feb. 19, 1,796, and was taken, still warm, from the ground.* 
The first of these peculiar substances with which chemistry 
has interfered, was the stone presented by the Abb6 Bachelay 
to the Royal French Academy. It was found on the 13th of 
September, 1768, yet hot, by persons who saw it fall. It is 
described as follows : 
“ La substance de cette pierre est d’un gris cendr6 pale; 
“ lorsqu’on en regarde le grain a la loupe, on apper^oit que 
<£ cette pierre est parsemee d’une infinite de petits points bril- 
“ Ians metalliques, d’un jaune pale; sa surface exterieure, celle 
“ qui, suivant M. FAbbe Bachelay, nTtoit point engag^e dans 
“ la terre, £toit couverte d’une petite couche tres-mince d’ulie 
“ matiere noire, boursoufflee dans des endroits, et qui parois- 
“ soit avoir £te fondue. Cette pierre, frapp^e dans Fint^rieur 
“ avec Facier, ne donnoit aucune etincelle ; si on frappoit, au 
“ contraire, sur la petite couche exterieure, qui paroissoit avoir 
“ ete attaqu^e par le feu, on parvenoit a en tirer quelques-unes.” 
The specific gravity of this stone was as 3535 to 1000. 
The academicians analyzed the stone, and found it to contain. 
Sulphur 
H 
Iron 
36 
Verifiable earth 
w|iS 
*0 
» 
8 
i 
TOO. 
* Letters written during a short residence in Spain and Portugal. Page 239, 
