[ z 53 ] 
cc viz. at Flowerdale (a gentleman’s houfe on the 
cc weftern coaft ofRosfhire), the view of the heavens 
“ is extremely confined, being quite furrounded, ex- 
a cept at one point, by very high and clofe- approach - 
4< ing hills; whence you will underftand, that the 
ct meteor muft have been high before it could be ob- 
£e ferved, and that it quickly difappeared, as its pro- 
“ grefs was very rapid. Its light was moft furprif- 
<e ingly fplendent, but not in the leaft like that of 
££ the fun, except when it fhines through a cloud, 
“ or a fummer fhower, Its magnitude was near to 
44 that of the full moon, when (lie is three or four 
££ hours high. Its colour not at all like that of the 
££ body of the fun, or an ignited globe, but refem- 
£< bled that of the flame of fpirits. Its figure was 
£c quite fpherical, without any tail; but it emitted, 
££ or as it were dropped, fparks of various colours 
“ and magnitudes. As for its height, it was vertical; 
<c and its direction was from the weft northerly to 
“ the eaft foutherly. I was fenfible of no noife 
££ on its difappearance. The time of night was 
££ about nine, and indeed as dark a night as ever I 
a faw.” 
Upon reading this letter, and finding, by Dr. Mac- 
kenzie’s obfervation, the courfe of the meteor to have 
been fo very different in thole parts from what I had 
collected from the other accounts, and believing it: 
was beyond all chance, that a new meteor fhould 
appear at the fame place, on the fame day, and 
at tlie fame hour when the other was expected, I 
doubted I had either mifunderftood that gentleman’s 
expreflion, with regard to the direction, or that lie 
poflibly might have made a miftake in the writing ; 
