C 273 ] 
one of thefe bodies has given rife to the ffcory ol 
Phaeton ; fince no other event will, perhaps, fo well 
account for not only the foundation of that fable, but 
for a prevailing opinion among the ancients, that, 
befides a large tradt of country, even the heavens 
themfelves, in appearance, had once fuffered by a 
conflagration. 
If it is then probable, that thefe balls of fire come 
from regions far beyond the reach of our vapours ; 
if they approach often fo near to the earth, and fo 
feldom or never touch it ; if they are moved with fo 
much celerity, as in that refpedt to have the charadter 
of celeftial bodies ; if they are feen flying in all di- 
rections, and confequently have a motion of their 
own, independent of that of our globe; if they part 
with fuch quantities of an elafiic fluid, a phlogiflic 
matter, and probably an acid, lurely we are not to 
confider them as indifferent to us, much lefs as fortui- 
tous mafies, or trains of terreftrial exhalations in the 
aethereal regions ; but rather as bodies of a nobler orb« 
gin, pofiibly revolving about fome center, formed and 
regulated by the Creator for wife and beneficent pur- 
pofes, even with regard to our atmofphere ; which, 
during their combuftion, they may fupply with fome 
fubtile and falutary matter, or remove from it fuch 
parts as begin to be fuperfluous, or noxious to the 
inhabitants of the earth. 
Since thefe fheets were printed off, Dr. Pringle received another let- 
ter from Sir Robert Pringle, acquainting him, he had not found that 
part of his intelligence hold good, of the fhip - mailer’s feeing the 
meteor (of the 26th of November 1758) in the Baltick; but, upon 
further inquiry, had learnt, that though this perfon had obferved an 
appearance of the fame kind in thole feas, it was not on the fame 
day. 
Vol. LI. 
Dt, 
Nn 
