I* A Letter from Mr . Wm. Smith to Mr. 
Robert Auften, concerning a Fire-ball y feen 
in the Air July 22. 1750. communicated 
to the Royal Society by the Rev . Wm. 
Stukeley M. D . F. R . S. and ReEior of St. 
George the Martyr > London. 
Read Jan. 10. "fyoUR leaving this place fomewhat 
fooner than I expedted, prevented 
my giving you an account of that beautiful pheno- 
menon, that appeared this laid fummer at this place, 
and the neighbouring villages, which I told you of. 
I therefore give you the trouble hereof, that you may, 
if you think it worth your time, communicate the 
fame to Dr. Stukeley. 
On Sunday the 2 2 of July laft about 20 minutes 
before 9, as near as I can remember, in the evening, 
as I came from Werrington, two miles north-weft 
of this place, I faw to the left of me (as did two 
others then in company with me) and feemingly 
about the height of the fun when about two hours 
high, a ball of light, bigger than a ftar of the firft 
magnitude to our appearance ; the colour like that 
of a rocket, when thrown, and in its full glory. It 
drew a tail of light, to our view about 3 feet and a 
half long, which was broadeft and brighteft next 
the ball, and grew taper in form, and languid in 
colour, to its termination. Its courfe was about 
north-weft to fouth-weft. It moved in a diredt line 
A horizontally, 
