[ 5 9 3 
here, as well as in the Country, but little othcnvife 
obferved concerning it, but that it was like a Ball of 
fire, and appeared over fuch and fuch a Place. 
If my Eyes were not deceived, it put on feveral 
Forms j but as its Motions were fometimcs pretty 
quick, I have ventured only to allure you, that the 
Account I have inclofed is as near the Truth as the 
Obfervations of fuch fudden Phenomenons will gene- 
rally admit of.—. I am with the greateft Refpea:, 
London, T° ur mo ft obedient , 
Feb. 12. 1742. humble Servant , 
William Gordon. 
On Friday the nth of 'December 1741. about One 
P. M. coming by Water from the City to White- 
hall Y, and near to Hungerford-jlairs> there appeared 
to me between Vauxhall and* Lambeth, a Body of 
Fire : It fprung upwards in its Afcent almoft perpen- 
dicular to the Horizon, to the Height, as near as I 
could guefs by my Eye, of 3 5 Degrees, in the Space 
of a few Seconds, and nearly in Form of a large 
Boy’s Kite, proje&ing a long Tail towards the North- 
weft, not unlike thofe of Slips of Paper fet on Fire : 
In this State it continued fo long, that I made the 
Waterman lay his Oars in, that I might the more 
eafdy obferve whether it was the W ork of Art or 
Nature, for I was in fome Doubt. It had from its 
firft Appearance expanded itfelf confidcrably, fo that 
the extreme Breadth was feemingly equal to the Dia- 
meter of a Full Moon arifing from a dusky Horizon. 
In this Form it continued afeending for the Space of 
H 2 Two 
