c 228 r 
“ in the air, which continued at lead: 20 feconds; at* 
“ the fame time I could perceive no wind, and the 
“ ftars were remarkably bright. As for the greateft 
“ altitude, which you defire to be informed about, as 
“ I could very well retain that in my head, a gentle- 
<c man in town, and myfelf, took that height with a 
“ theodolite, by pointing the inftrument to that part 
“ of the heavens I faw the meteor in ; and in this I 
“ could be very exatft, as I took particular notice of 
“ its apparent elevation above a certain high houfe 
“ it feemed to pafs over. We found the greateft 
“ height to be 32 degrees above the horizon, on a 
“ vertical circle; and 41 degrees from the north to- 
£f wards the weft *. As I did not myfelf fee the me- 
“ teor extinguished, by reafon of fome houfes that 
“ were in the way, I found a perfon in this neigh- 
“ bourhood, who had feen it to the laft j and getting 
“ him to point to that part of the heavens where it 
“ difappeared, we alfo took that height with the 
“ theodolite, and found it eight degrees *f\ This 
ct man feeming to be pretty fure of his pointing to the 
“ very place in queftion, I believe you may depend 
“ on the obfervation as tolerably juft. As for the 
<{ figure (Fig. 3.), you have it as correct as I could 
* It appears by this obfervation, that the meteor being fo low 
as 32% it mud have palled the town a great way before Mr. Hewit- 
got a fight of it. 
f The meteor being extinguifhed when perpendicular to Fort 
William (as will appear by a fubfequent obfervation), at the appa- 
rent altitude of 8° at Carlifle, makes the real height at Fort Wil- 
liam to have been between 26 and 27 miles, allowance being made 
for the curvature of the earth, of 3* miles, between thefe two 
places. 
“ make 
