ATMOSPHERICAt PHEtlOMEIIX. i 
soon split into towers, which were shortly /'* •- 
'• colonnades, then in windows, and at last 
‘a 
the Fata Morgana, which, for twenty-six 
cypresses, and other trees, even and sinnilar. ^ I ^ 
thought a mere fable.’’ 
ATMOSPHERICAL REFRACTION. 
A SURPRISING instance of atmospherical J' 
It-'* jYJ, b, 
at Hastings on the 26th of July, 1798. 
F. R. S. sitting in his dining room, situated on ^ a- ^ 
close to the sea shore, and nearly fronting tbs * P ^4 
6ve in the afternoon, had his attention 
'dde"!)",,, 
by a great number of people running down , 
side. On enquiring the reason, he was infot"’ ^|t)i 
coast of France was plainly to be distinguw 
’T vas 
naked eye. On going down to tlie shore, he ' 
to find that, even without the assistance 
he could very plainly see the cliffs on the °PP.^ 
which, at the nearest part, are between 
miles distant, and are not to be discerned, 
situation, by the aid of the best glasses. The/^j j/ 
be only a few miles off, and seemed to tP^ VK 
- along 
leagues along the coast. Pursuing his walk con'^j/ 
to the eastward, close to the water’s edge, nn f))f/ 
on the subject with the sailors and fishermnn> 
at first, be persuaded of the reality of d>^ 
not 
but soon became so thoroughly cortvinceu, 
gradually appearing more elevated, and appi'^^j jo ^ 
as it were, that they pointed out, and nanin 
Ko/1 KA3an tO ^ 'll. ^ , t 
different places they had been accustomed to ' j^iH, 
the Bay, the Old Head or Man, the Rgr sfC'' 
Boulogne; together with St. Vallery, and o’ cOKa^, 
^ WALii UL. i«» j {,V , 
the coast of Picardy. This they aftervv*" . 
when they viewed them, thus refracted, 
copes, observing that the above places 
as if they had been sailing, at a small dis’* 
harbours. 
From the eastern cliff, which is of a ' , '•,<elt ^i\K 
nted 
A' 
height, a most beautiful scene present' ^ 
Latham’s view, for there he could at onco s 
Dover Cliffs, and the French coast, all along 
