[ 2 99 ] 
C( up, fome of them were melted ; others fnapped in 
u funder; others had their hafts burnt ; others their 
“ fheaths either tinged or burnt ; others not.” From 
all which circumftances, duly coniidered, I think no- 
thing certain in favour of cold fution can be fairly 
drawn. 
XXXI. An Account of a Meteor feen at 
Shefford, in Berkdiire, on Saturday, Octo- 
ber 20 thy 1759; with fome Obfervations 
on the W zather of the preceding Winter : 
In a L,etter to Thomas Birch, D. D. Sec . 
R. S. from Richard Forfter, M, A. Rec- 
tor of Shefford. 
Reverend Sir, Shefford, Oftob. 31, 1759. 
Read Nov. 8, /'"^N Saturday the a.oth inftant, about 
I759 ’' Six in the evening, a ball of tire 
fell nearly eaft from this place. I did not fee it my- 
felf. My fervant (who is a very fober, honetl fel- 
low) fays it was nearly of the fame fize with the 
moon, and full as bright as the ever tliines : its mo- 
tion was very fwift, and, as far as he could judge 
(for it was out in a moment) quite downright, i. e. 
perpendicular to the horizon. 
And now my hand is in, I cannot forbear acquaint- 
ing you with an obfervation I have made, which bids 
fair to overfet a maxim pretty ftrongly eftablithed in 
the world, as not being only believed and depended 
on by the vulgar and middling people, but mentioned 
* Qjj 2 (as 
