PROGRESS OF METEORIC ASTRONOMY IN AMERICA. 283 
11th. The theory that they were solids that have been 
floating in space from the beginning; advocated by Chladni, 
Franklin, and Rittenhouse. 
12th. The theory of Olbers that they are fragments of an 
exploded planet. 
13th. The theory of Quetelet that they belong to a zone 
through which the earth passes annually. 
14th. The theory of Boubee that they are fragments of an 
exploded comet. 
These theories are all rejected as disproved or absurd ; but 
the author advances no theory as a substitute. He announces, 
however, that, to his mind, “ the most probable supposition 
yet made is that the solid meteors may possibly emanate 
from the sun,” though no serious attempt is made to prove 
the proposition. 
In a paper read by Prof. J. Lawrence Smith before the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, in 
April, 1854, the author 1 advocated the theory of the lunar 
origin of meteors, which he stated as follows: “ The moon 
is the only large body in space, of which we have any knowl¬ 
edge, possessing the requisite conditions demanded by the 
physical and chemical properties of meteorites; and they 
have been thrown off from that body by volcanic action 
(doubtless long since extinct), and, encountering no gaseous 
medium of resistance, reached such a distance as that the 
moon exercised no longer a preponderating attraction, the de¬ 
tached fragment possessing an orbital motion and an orbital 
velocity which it had in common with all parts of the moon, 
but now more or less modified by the projectile force and new 
condition of attraction in which it was placed in reference 
to the earth, acquired an independent orbit more or less 
elliptical. This orbit, necessarily subject to great disturbing 
influences, may sooner or later cross our atmosphere and be 
intercepted by the body of the globe.” 
In 1859 2 Dr. B. A. Gould read a paper before the Ameri- 
*A. J. S., XIX 2 , 343. 
35—Bull. Phil. Soe. Wash., Vol. 11. 
2 Proc. A. A. A. S. 1859, 181. 
