[ 2 7i ] 
courfe it was judged capable of furnilhing materials 
for all the lucid phenomena in the sethereal regions. 
Thus, not an hundred years ago, the comets them- 
delves were accounted for on no better principle; and 
therefore we are the lefs to wonder if thefe meteors 
have been hitherto almofl condantly referred, even 
by the bed; naturalids, to the fame origin. 
Of all the hypotkefes that have come to my know- 
lege on this fubjeCt, a hint of Dr. Halley’s (in a paper 
prelented to the Society feveral years before the 
above-mentioned), feems bed to agree with the late 
meteor ; viz. that fuch bodies may be formed inde- 
pendent of any vapours from the earth *. But, with 
regard to the red of his conjecture, that the one he 
defcribed, “ might be a collection of matter formed in 
“ the aether by fome fortuitous concourfe of atoms; 
114 and that the earth had met with it newly formed, 
and before it had conceived any great impetus of 
ct defeent towards the fun,” I fay, with regard to 
thefe circumdances, they are not at all fupported by 
the prefent cafe: for, if we confider the immenfe 
velocity with which the late meteor moved north- 
wards (and in judging of which we could not be de- 
ceived by either the diurnal or annual motion of the 
earth), we mud be convinced that the earth did not 
meet with it before it had conceived a confidcrable 
impetus of defeent, either towards the fun, or fome 
other attracting power. Andaltho’ there was likewife a 
motion of this body towards the earth, as appeared by 
the dipping of its path, yet it did not come quite down. 
* Phil. Tranf. N° 341, d. 159. Abr. Vol. IV. Par. II. Ch. 1. 
§ 25 * 
as 
