SHOOTING -STARS 
61 
glass jar, and, consequently we have all the necessary data for 
solving the question. I am at present occupied upon it, and I 
trust that the results will be interesting for hygrometry. 
XII. 
Reply to Mr. Farey on the Phenomena of Shooting-stars. 
To Mr. Nicholson. 
SIR, 
T HE ardour and modesty that characterize Mr. Farey’s Statement ; 
rejoinder to my remarks on his hypothesis, are but th . at certail5 
. . . - . misrepresent 
illustrations of the well-known partiality of every projector to tions have 
his own scheme. In that communication no new facts of keen made, 
importance are stated in support of ihe hypothesis ; nor is the 
statement I have opposed to it by any means disproved. 
Under these circumstances, I should not have troubled you or 
your readers, by any notice of my opinion, had not the paper 
in question contained some misrepresentations, which [ feel it 
essential to correct. I shall effect this as briefly as possible, <• 
since the extension of a discussion of this kind, is only useful 
when it serves to elicit new facts connected with the object of 
inquiry ; and I shall not notice ar.y farther communication on 
this subject unless it offer such facts. 
Mr. Farey’s first paragraph represents me as having 
fe insinuated” that he had exulted ” in the discontinuance of 
Mr. Foster’s obervations. A reference to my paper will 
prove that this representation is erroneous, neither the word 
f * exulted' ’ nor any synonymous expression is to be found in 
that paper. 
The method of observation recommended by Mr. F. viz by The heights of 
two or more observers at several miles distant from each other, 
&c. is well known, I presume, to every one conversant in not well 
natural philosophy ; but it appears from the observations of this deteimined. ^ 
kind that have been made on the aurora borealis(a phenomenon 
more favourable to their application, as less transient than 
meteors 
