TO THE RIO FLORIDO. A61 
e 
journey to Matamoras. This gentleman was very 
polite to us, and readily answered our numerous inqui- 
ries about the mass of iron. He said it was originally 
of malleable iron weighing nine pounds, was found in November, 1852, 
in digging a ditch near Cayuga Bridge, on Seneca River, N. Y. It 
measured four inches in diameter and seven inches in length: and what 
adds to the interest of this, is the fact that but afew miles from where it 
was found, a meteorite fell in 1827.* 
There is another interesting account of the discovery of a meteorite 
in the town of Charlotte, North Carolina. In this case a whizzing noise 
was heard in the air by several persons, accompanied by a commotion 
in the atmosphere, and the next moment a stone struck near them, 
“with a dull heavy jar of the ground.” On examination, the meteoric 
mass referred to was discovered. The people of the town were alarmed 
by “asudden explosion, followed at short intervals by two other reports, 
and by a rumbling in the air. The sounds were distinct, and continued 
for more than half a minute.” This meteor was seen through 250 
miles.t 
It is to be hoped that Professor Shepard, into whose hands this me- 
teorite has been placed, will give the scientific world the results of his 
extensive study of these most interesting phenomena. 
Before closing this note, I will remark, that early in the evening of 
the Ist of June, the day we left San Isabel in California, a brilliant me- 
teor was seen by us all, passing from west to east. Another which sur- 
passed in brilliancy, in the size of its mass, the length of its fiery train, 
and the time of its duration any that I ever witnessed, was seen about 
8 o'clock in the morning, between the 15th and 20th October, 1852. 
This occurred a few days before we reached Chihuahua, and passed from 
west to east over two thirds of the horizon, at the south. On reaching 
Ringgold Barracks, near Camargo, a few weeks aiter, Major Paul, the 
commanding officer at that post, informed me that he saw the same me 
teor, which passed to the north of them, and heard it explode. As it 
doubtless dropped on the open, woodless plains of Texas, which are now 
so much traversed, it is to be hoped that the masses which then fell 
may be discovered. 
* Silliman’s Journal, for Noy. 1852. + Id. Jan. 1850. 
