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AN ACCOUNT OF A Surprizing METEOR, Seen in the Air March 19. 1718/19. at NIGHT.

CONTAINING,

  • I. A Deſcription of this Meteor, from the Original Letters of thoſe who ſaw it in different Places.
  • II. Some Hiſtorical Accounts of the like METEORS before.
  • III. A Demonſtration that ſuch METEORS are not COMETS.
  • IV. That ſuch METEORS are not a Concourſe of Vapours above our Atmoſphere.
  • V. That they are prodigious Blaſts of Thunder and Lightenings in the upper Regions of our Air.
  • VI. Obſervations from the whole.

By WILLIAM WHISTON, M.A. ſometime Profeſſor of the Mathematicks in the Univerſity of Cambridge.

LONDON: Printed for W. TAYLOR, at the Ship in Pater-Noſter-Row. 1719.

[] AN ACCOUNT OF THE Surprizing METEOR Seen in the Air March 19. 1718/9.

IN order to afford the Reader what Light I can about this remarkable Phaenomenon, I ſhall

  • I. Give him a faithful Relation of the Phaenomenon it ſelf, and that from the original Accounts of ſome of the moſt intelligent of thoſe that ſaw it: (for I my ſelf ſaw nothing of it:) and ſhall draw the proper Inferences therefrom.
  • II. I ſhall give him like faithful Accounts of other Phaenomena of the ſame Nature, ſo far as they have hitherto come to my Hand.
  • [4] III. I ſhall give ſome Account of Dr. Wallis's Hypotheſis about ſuch Meteors; viz. That they are Comets; with my Reaſons againſt that Hypotheſis.
  • IV. I ſhall give a like Account of Dr. Halley's Hypotheſis about them; viz. That they are a ſort of fortuitous Collection of Vapours in the vaſt Void about us, which by Accident only ſometimes fall into our Atmoſphere, without any other relation thereto; with my Reaſons againſt that Hypotheſis.
  • V. I ſhall propoſe an Hypotheſis of my own, for the Solution of theſe Appearances; viz. That they are no other than prodigious Storms or Blaſts of Thunder and Lightening in the upper Regions of our Air; with my Reaſons for that Hypotheſis.
  • VI. I ſhall conclude with a few Obſervations relating to theſe Meteors, and their Conſequences.

I. I ſhall give the Reader a faithful Relation of this ſurprizing Phaenomenon it ſelf, from the original Accounts of ſome of the moſt intelligent of thoſe that ſaw it; which Accounts do here follow.

Dear Sir,

A Surprizing Phaenomenon, was ſeen with us here in the Air, at Eight at Night, on Thurſday laſt, much like the Deſcription of what was lately at Venice; a ſudden Appearance of a Globe of Fire, equal to the apparent Bigneſs and Brightneſs of the Sun, illuminating the whole Region as at Noon-day. After a ſmall Pauſe at its firſt breaking out (in the South-weſt, betwixt Orion's Girdle, and the Great Dog, at about 20° Elev.) it ſhot horizontally with pretty great Velocity into the South-eaſt, leaving a Stream of Light in the Air, and diſappear'd in about 6″ from its firſt Appearance; but the Streams of Light were continued for a quarter of an Hour, ſeparated into two or three [5] bended Figures, of the Colour of red mottled Fire, which alſo dy'd away. I ſhould be glad to know whether any of this was ſeen at London, and in what Quarter, that we may make ſome Judgment of its real Diſtance and Altitude.

Your moſt affectionate Friend, &c.

N.B. This utmoſt Altitude of about 20 Degrees at Yelvertoft, agrees well with ſeveral Obſervations made at London, which ſeems to have been about the ſame Diſtance from the Meteor with Yelvertoft: For here it never appear'd conſiderably above 20 Degrees high.

Dear Sir,

NOT knowing, whether or no, the following Account of the Appearance may be of any uſe to you; I thought fit to ſend it, that you may uſe it, or not, as you think fit. After the Appearance was over, there appeared a duskiſh red Streak whence they ſaid the Appearance came; it did not ſeem to change its Place at all, but gradually vaniſh'd away in about a quarter, or half an Hour; if the ſame was alſo obſerv'd at other Places, the Heighth and Diſtance of it might eaſily be calculated. If my Globe be rightly made, it was between 14 or 15 Degrees high, and about 50 Degrees from the South, counting Weſtward. But when I look'd at the Appearance it ſelf thro' the Window, it was got further South-Eaſtward, and could not [6] be above 10 Degrees high, and was between 37 and 42 Degrees from the South to the Weſtward.

I am, &c.
Dear Sir,

ON Thurſday Night I ſaw the ſhaking Meteor you make mention of. I was abroad in the Yard, before our Commiſſioner's Door, and obſerv'd both the Beginning, and almoſt the whole Continuance of it: which I take to be thus:

At 4 Minutes paſt 8 a Clock, due Weſt from the Place I ſtood, about 40 Degrees high, firſt appear'd a round reddiſh Ball (as near as I could gueſs) 8 or 10′ Diameter, which deſcended ſlowly downwards, a little inclining to the South, and all the while encreaſing its Magnitude; when it came within 20 Deg. of the Horizon, it alter'd its Motion more aſlant to the Southward, and increas'd its Brightneſs and Magnitude prodigiouſly, till its leaſt Diameter was about 26 to 28 Minutes; its Light and Brightneſs being equal to the Sun, but of a whiter Colour. (I take the Redneſs you mention to proceed from the ſmoaky Air you live in.) The Air was clear, except two thin Clouds through which it paſs'd, as if the Clouds had been heated or ſet on Fire in that Part, and which continu'd near half an Hour. Your Letter, and ſome other Accounts I have ſeen, ſay it continued half a Minute, but indeed I gueſt by the Slowneſs of the Motion it was near a Minute before it diſappear'd; and when it came within 7 or 8 Deg. of the Horizon my Sight was obſtructed at a Tar-houſe that intercepted. Many People affirm they heard a Noiſe ſometime after it like to Thunder, or a hot Iron quench'd in Water: and I thought I heard ſuch a Noiſe faintly, [7] —which ſeem'd to be about Yarmouth in the Iſle of Wight—I have ſeen and ſpoke with ſome that were about 28 Miles farther Weſtward, who affirm they did hear ſuch a Noiſe very diſtinctly.

LAST Night, a few Minutes before eight a Clock, we had here the terribleſt Flaſh of Lightening that I believe was ever ſeen; it laſted about three Minutes, as near as I can gueſs. It was ſo great that it quite obſcur'd the Light of the Moon, tho' it was a very bright Night. There appear'd in the Sky a Stream as it were of Fire for ſome Minutes after, and at ſome Diſtance as it were a Cloud of Smoke. The Phaenomenon was ſo very ſurprizing, that I did not at firſt well know what to make of it, till after gazing at it about three or four Minutes, we heard a great Clap of Thunder, which at firſt reſembled the Noiſe of Canon, the moſt I ever heard in my Life.

ON Thurſday, March 19, between 8 and 9 in the Evening, there appeared in the Firmament, firſt a red Star bigger than common, and did increaſe more and more, till at laſt it burſt out in a ſplendid Light, which did run from the North to the South, and continued near a Minute ſo light as it was at Noon-Day. We were all aſtoniſh'd to ſee ſuch a ſplendid Appearance this time a Night.

[8]

I Could give you a particular Account of the Phaenomenon, which was ſeen the 19th Inſtant in the Evening; for the Exploſion was heard here, and by obſerving the Time, between ſeeing the Light and hearing the Sound. I have the Diſtance, by which, with the Angle it made above the Horizon; by Trigonometry I calculate its perpendicular Height to be near 40 Miles, and that it was Vertical about Sheepwaſh or Torrington in Devonſhire, and that it was ſeen in other Countries beſides England, by reaſon of its great Height. I ſuppoſe the Exploſion was not took Notice of at London, by reaſon it would not reach the Ear in leſs than 12 Minutes after the Light.

I am, &c.

N.B. The ſame Author afterward gave a more particular Account of what he obſerv'd about this Meteor; of which the Epitome follows.

It broke out between the two foremoſt Stars in the Square of the little Bear, but 2 or 3 Degrees to the Eaſtward, at the Altitude of 46°. It ran along by the Star in the bending of the Dragons Tail, and thro' the great Bears Tail, a little below the middle Star, and ſo away towards Cor Caroli, and paſt pretty near it; thence coming round again it fell down into our Horizon, cutting it at S.S.E. half South nearly; but if any thing to the Eaſtward, not coming nigh the Moon.

  • The Sound was certainly heard at Guernſey.
  • The Courſe was from the South to the Eaſt.
  • The Sound makes its Altitude 50 Miles nearly.

[9] N.B. That this Author's own natural Thoughts of the Meteor's Altitude, from his Obſervations, was between 38 and 40 Miles; tho' in this Letter he ſeems willing to extend it to about 50 Miles: And that another Auditor near Lempſter in Herefordſhire, eſtimated the Interval between the Light and the Sound by a Watch, and found it about 10 Minutes: Which gives about 40 Miles of Altitude alſo.

SITTING at the Fire-ſide about Eight a Clock at Night, the Moon ſhining then very bright, and the Sky clear, not the leaſt Cloud to be ſeen, on the ſudden there appeared a very great Light far brighter than the Sun at Noon-day, accompanied with ſo great an Heat, that the Arm of mine which was next to the Window burnt for many Hours as if it had been ſcalded. There was ſo great a Smoak, that I thought, and ſo did many others, that all the Ground had been on Fire; but we ſoon perceived that it was in the Sky. The Light came from the North-Eaſt (which is the Situation of our Room) it ſeem'd to go very ſwift over our Houſe, and ſo over the Church to the South-Weſt. In a very ſhort time it returned back again (but not near ſo big) and as it appeared to us, broke juſt over the Church, like a Sky-Rocket, but ſo large, and with ſo many Sparks of Fire, that it left ſo great a Redneſs (ſeemingly to us juſt the breadth and length of the Church) that it looked like all Blood, and gave the ſame Reflexion into the Rooms on the other ſide of the Houſe. Some Minutes after this (I ſhould think at leaſt ſeven or eight) we heard a Report like a great Canon (much greater than ever I heard.) It ſhook the Houſe and Windows very much. About a [10] Minute after, there went off to our thinking, about thirty, not ſo big. They ſounded juſt as the Tower-Guns did, when we were in Mincinglane, but ſhook the Houſe and Windows much more. After this, we heard ſmaller, with a Sound like Drums and Trumpets, which laſted but a ſhort Time. After the Light went off, although the Moon ſeemed to ſhine bright; for about two Minutes, it was ſo dark, that we could not ſee our Hands.

N.B. That Reſemblance of the latter Sounds to a Drum, I have heard confirm'd by more than one Auditor beſides.

—I Should not trouble you any longer, but that we had a very extraordinary Meteor laſt Thurſday Night, the Nineteenth of this Inſtant. I was walking in Stephen's Green, and ſaw it diſtinctly, about 20 after Seven, the Moon was pretty bright, when on a ſudden, it was in a Manner extinguiſh'd by a prodigious Blaze, two or three Times bigger than its Orb, of very white clear Light. It began about E.S.E. moved forward to the S. for about 20 Degrees extreamly ſwift, and then ended in a Point. It ſhot like a Cone, left a Train of reddiſh Light, which ſoon vaniſh'd, for all was over in eight or nine Seconds. The Appearances of Meteors are ſo ſudden, and their Continuance ſo ſhort, that they are ſeldom obſerv'd, and hard to be deſcrib'd. It was ſeen at Drogheda, but I have heard no Account of it further off.

[11]

COming Home this Evening, about 8 a Clock, thro' St. Paul's Church-Yard, on the North ſide, my Face being Weſtward, I diſcern'd in the Sky a large Ball of Fire, at about 20 or 25° height from the Horizon, and bearing about W. and by N. or W.N.W. when I firſt ſaw it: It ſeem'd to be as large as the Moon at Full, with a pale blewiſh Light, and to have little Motion; but in a Moment it was thrown into the Shape of a common Meteor, the Head diminiſhing 'till it was all turn'd into a long Stream of Light, which extended to about 50 or 60° in the Heavens toward S.W. and on an Angle of about 10 or 15° from a Parallel with the Horizon, but the broadeſt part of this Stream was at leaſt double to the Diameter of its firſt Appearance, and made ſo ſtrong a Light while it was in its greateſt Extent, that for a Moment the Moon, which was above a Day paſt the firſt Quarter, and all the Stars, ſeem'd to diſappear by the Superiority of this new Light; and at that Moment one might have read the ſmalleſt Print by it. While it was throwing it ſelf into this beautiful Stream, I thought I heard a Noiſe of hiſſing, like what is made by the flying of a large Rocket in the Air, but I heard no other Noiſe. The Light, tho' very ſtrong, was very agreeable to the Eye, and as it vaniſh'd it turn'd from a bright Pale to a Yellowiſh Colour. The Duration of the whole I do not think was above half a Minute, and of the greateſt Light not the tenth part of a Minute.

[12]

An Account of the late Meteor, as it appear'd at Norwold in Norfolk, about nine Mile North Weſt of Thetford.

ABout a quarter paſt eight in the Evening, the Sky being very clear, and the Moon between a Day and two Days paſt the firſt Quarter, there appeared a bright Star a little Weſt of Orion, and ſomewhat higher than his Belt; at firſt it ſtood ſtill, but in a few Minutes began to glide ſlowly, and almoſt parallel to the Horizon, and increas'd in Velocity and Bigneſs, till it came to be between the Belt and Sword of Orion, by which time it was as big as the Moon in the Horizon, and burſt and fell down very ſwift with a Train of Light about the Breadth of a Rainbow, which reached from Orion to the Horizon, and gradually vaniſhed in ſmall Sparks like a Rocket. It was a Minute or more before they were quite extinguiſhed; the Light was ſo great as to extinguiſh that of the Moon; the Colour was very White and Blue, like the common Compoſition of Stars in Rockets; and ſeveral Perſons, both Abroad and in the Houſe, were poſitive of hearing diſtinctly a Noiſe, like a great Number of Rockets going off together.

[]

[diagram of path of meteor]
[13]
SIR,

ON Thurſday the 19th of March, 1718-9, at 8h 11 ſo eſtimated by a Pendulum Clock, compar'd the next Day with an Horizontal Dial made at London; but without allowing any thing for its deviating a little from the true North to the Eaſtward. At that Time, I ſay, I was walking in my Chamber, with my Face towards the Window, made of a clear Glaſs, from which I was at about three or four Foot Diſtance, when I ſaw on a ſudden, through it, at the South Weſt, a very great Flaſh of Fire, expreſs'd in the Figure by A B. I open'd inſtantly the Window, from whence I had a clear Proſpect of that Part of Heaven, except about three or four Degrees next to the Horizon. The whole Space A B, was fill'd up in an Inſtant, with a very bright Flame, which might laſt about four Seconds of Time, and perhaps not above two or three Seconds, and ſo did ſuddenly vaniſh, leaving in the very ſame Place A B, a ſmall thin Cloud, of a grey Colour, ſomewhat reddiſh. At the ſame Time, a ſmall Fire continu'd from B, to run leiſurely along the Line B E C, leaving all along behind it a grey Stream, about 15′ broad. The Line B E C, was very uniform, a little bending towards Sirius; but the Edges or Sides of it were rough, and not uniform as the Line it ſelf, this Part being in ſome Places a very little broader or narrower than in others. The whole Figure A B E C reſembled exactly a Rod or Staff. The Fire might be about five Seconds in deſcribing the Line B E C, having its handle about 1d broad in A B, in a direct continued Line with the reſt. While the Line B C was a forming, it look'd exactly as if a Rocket, or a Bomb, had been thrown in our Neighbourhood. The viſible Remains of this whole Phenomenon [14] continuing about a Quarter of an Hour, gave me an Opportunity of delineating it immediately, with the Stars about it. But becauſe of the Impoſſibility of making a plain Figure, repreſenting truly ſo great a Part of Heaven, unleſs it be in the Nature of a Projection, I have reduc'd here my Figures to a Planiſphere, whereof the Zenith is the Center, the Eye being ſuppos'd in the oppoſite Point, in the Surface of the Sphere. However, I have placed the Stars only by Eſtimation, as my Figures directed me, without uſing any Table of the Stars, &c. In my Draught, I ſuppos'd for a Foundation, that the higher-moſt Star in Orion, was about 30d high, as I judg'd it to be by Eſtimation. The Situations and Proportions are very near the Matter in the Figure, including in it Procyon; at leaſt they are ſo near the Matter, that from this Obſervation, and any tolerable Obſervation beſide, made in England, &c. from any Place fit for that Purpoſe, it may be very ſafely determined how high this Phenomenon was from the Surface of the Globe; what Places it was perpendicular upon; what was its true Bigneſs and Figure, and real Swiftneſs in Burning; and how much it was leaning at its Extremity C, either towards Worceſter or from it; and laſtly, whether the Line A B E C, was really uniform in it ſelf, and almoſt ſtreight; or, whether it only ſeemed ſo to me, as being at Worceſter. As ſoon as we knew that this Phenomenon had been ſeen at London, and that there, as they ſaid, it gave as great a Light as in the Day Time, I concluded that it had been ſeen in Cornwall too. The printed Account, in a Letter from Plimouth, March the 20th, though very general, and upon that Account imperfect; yet enables us to gueſs very well at the Height and Bigneſs, and Situation of the bright Part A B, of this Phenomenon; and that with ſo much the more Certainty, becauſe the Part A B was very near the Zenith at Plimouth.

[15] N.B. That this curious Author's Computation of the middle Point of the larger Part of the Meteor, or of it when it was burſting to Pieces in its Exploſion, is ſcarce 22½ Miles. But then, that is only on the Suppoſition that that Point was perpendicularly over Plimouth, as ſome imperfect Accounts at firſt ſaid; whereas the Obſervations by the Stars which are among the exacteſt I have heard of, compar'd with others already ſet down, will prove, That that Point was not then over Plimouth, but rather over the middle of Bretaign in France; which greater Diſtance will by the ſame Method of Computation, afford us near forty Miles Altitude, which agrees with the moſt accurate Obſervations of the Interval, between the Sound and the Light, and with the reſt of the Obſervations by the Stars already ſet down; and indeed, with the Generality of the Obſervations every where that I have met with; and may therefore, I think, be entirely depended on by us.

NOW the proper Reſult of all theſe Accounts, and of many others that I have ſeen and heard, is this; That this Meteor was compos'd of Nitro-ſulphureous Vapours, or Exhalations, collected firſt together in the upper Regions of the Air, over Radnorſhire in Wales, or the neighbouring Counties: That it was at firſt ſmaller, and to Appearance like a large Star only; that it gathered more Fewel as it rolled along, and grew larger and larger all the Way; that its Courſe was nearly Parallel to the Horizon, and its Direction nearly South, or a very ſmall matter towards the South-Weſt: That by the time it came to be Vertical, between Cardiff in Wales and, and Minehead in Somerſetſhire, over the Severn Sea, it was become vaſtly large and bright, ſo as to exceed the Noon-day Sun in Splendor, near that Line along which it paſs'd, and [16] to equal its apparent Magnitude alſo: That it proceeded in this manner quite over Devonſhire, but much nearer the Eaſtern Limits of it, than the Weſtern: That it paſt almoſt perpendicularly over the City of Exeter, and ſo over the Britiſh Channel, till it came over Bretaign in France: That all this while its Magnitude and Light were not impair'd; that it made a hiſſing Noiſe like a Rocket all the way, and ſpread a prodigious and continued Lightening, even to the utmoſt Limits of the whole Horizon: That upon its coming near to Bretaign in France, it began to burſt to Pieces and diſſolve, with a prodigious Noiſe, which endur'd for ſome time, anſwering to the time of its burſting to Pieces, all the while it was diſſolving: That it left a large Smoke, or ſort of Cloud along all that Space where it burſt, above 100 Miles in Length, over our Channel and Bretaign, and perhaps ſomewhat further towards Bell-Iſle: That the Noiſe of this Exploſionw as heard all along its Courſe, and 50 or 60 Miles at leaſt on both Sides of it; firſt like a vaſt Number of great Guns diſcharg'd together; and then like the rattling or interrupted Noiſe of Drums; ſuch as are in both Caſes uſual in and after great Claps of Thunder: That this Meteor, while it was diſſolving, ſeems to have ſent out leſſer Streams of Light, backwards towards Wales from the North-end; and backwards towards Exeter, from the South-end, before it intirely vaniſhed: After which, certain Traces or Streams of the fiery Vapors continued ſor a quarter of an Hour, as Marks where it had paſſed: That this Meteor muſt have been about 38 or 40 Miles in perpendicular Height from the Earth all along, tho' perhaps ſomewhat lower towards its diſſolution: That it went from Radnor in Wales, to the utmoſt Parts of Bretaign in France, or about 300 Miles, in 7 or 8″ of Time; or at the Rate of above 2000 Miles in a Minute: That it muſt have been viſible, wherever Clouds did not interpoſe, within the Compaſs of an Oval, whoſe longer Axis, drawn nearly through Radnor and Bell-Iſle, muſt have been about 1400 Miles, and its leſſer at right Angles thereto about 1100 Miles, i. e. through [17] all Great Britain and Ireland; through Holland, Flanders, the Weſtern Parts of Germany, all France, and the North-Eaſt Parts of Spain, with Lombardy in Italy: And that it was really about a Mile in Diameter: That therefore it was truly a Meteor, or what properly, during its whole Courſe, was within the Limits of our Atmoſphere: As both the hiſſing Noiſe during its Paſſage, and the terrible Thunder afterwards, do plainly demonſtrate. It being well known that no Sound can be propagated, but through the elaſtical Medium of the Air. The remaining Traces of this Meteor left in the ſame Air, and ſeen therein for a quarter of an Hour after it was gone, are alſo evident Demonſtrations of the ſame thing.

II. I ſhall now give the Reader faithful Accounts of other Phaenomena of the like Nature with this Meteor before us, ſo far as they have hitherto come to my Hand.

(1.) The firſt Meteor of this kind that I have met with as ſeen in this laſt Age (for of the elder Ones we have generally ſuch imperfect Accounts, and that chiefly as Omens only, that little Light can be gathered from them, to any ſober Enquirer's Satisfaction) is that mentioned by Dr. Hook, in theſe Words.

Hook's Poſthumous Works. p. 200.A like Phaenomenon to that in Italy 1676, ſays he, was ſome 10 Years before obſerv'd, both here in England and in Holland. It was ſeen by Sir Rob. Murray, if I miſ-remember not, and by Mr. Shortgrave; and I think, alſo by Monſ. Hugens in Holland. It was as big as the Italian Meteor, and was judg'd to be of an exceeding great Height in the Atmoſphere; being ſeen at Places ſo far diſtant at the ſame time. It appeared firſt about the North-Eaſt, and paſſed by the North-Weſt; not riſing, as I remember, ſo high, as 10 Degrees above the Horizon.

[18] (2.) The ſecond Meteor of this kind, that I have met with was, in the Words of the ſame Dr. Hook Ibid. p. 199.A Fax, or Lampas volans, obſerv'd after Sun-ſet, the 1 ſt of March 1676, at Fau—by Petrus de Lavina; at Rome, by Monſieur Auzout; at Florence, by Matthias del Arpi; at Venice, by Jo. Jacob Hertz; and in ſeveral other Cities of Italy: In all which it was ſeen alſo by very many others: And at the ſame time alſo, was obſerv'd in the lower Parts of Germany; as at Triers, by the Jeſuits there; Places very far diſtant from one another; and yet the Time and Manner of the Appearance in all was much the ſame. It ſeemed to riſe out of the North-Eaſt, and to paſs by the Meridian to the South-Weſt Parts of the Heavens, near the ſame Tract that the Sun had gone that Day; and diſappear'd behind thick Clouds, where, with a mighty Noiſe, it was ſuppos'd to be blown to pieces and diſpers'd. It appeared about the Bigneſs of the Full Moon, and left behind it a Tail about three Diameters, of a reddiſh Flame at firſt, but turning blewiſh towards the laſt. It laſted about a Minute or two. Its Noiſe at laſt was like the Noiſe of an Earthquake at a Diſtance, and made the Glaſs in the Windows ſhake. From the comparing ſeveral Obſervations 'twas ſuppos'd about 90 Miles high, and near a Mile in Diameter.’

N.B. This muſt, in all Probability, be the very ſame Meteor which Montanari, the great Mathematician at Bononia ſaw, and exactly meaſur'd; of which preſently. For it was ſeen in the ſame Year, in the ſame Month, at the ſame time of the Night, in the ſame Countries, and paſſed along the very ſame Courſe, and was of the ſame Bigneſs; as will appear immediately. How the Day of the Month, March 1 for March 21, comes to be miſtaken, I do not certainly know; only if they were both meant of the ſame Style, it is very eaſily accounted for.

[19] N.B. The real Altitude therefore of this Meteor was not 90 Mile, as 'tis here in general ſtated; but about 38 Miles rather, as Montanari particularly meaſur'd it; as we ſhall now ſee.

(2.) The Third, or rather the ſame Second Meteor of this kind I have met with, is that on March 21. 1676, about an Hour and three quarters after Sun-ſet, exactly, to a few Minutes, within two Days of 43 Years before the laſt; which was an eminent one indeed, and was particularly obſerv'd at Bononia, by that great Mathematician Montanari. "It came over the Adriatick, ſays Dr. Halley in his Extract from him, Philoſophical Tranſact. No. 341."as from Dalmatia; croſt over Italy; and became nearly Vertical to Rimini and Leghorn: Its perpendicular Altitude was, at leaſt, 38 Miles; it made a hiſſing Noiſe as it paſſed, which was heard near its Courſe: From Leghorn it went off to Sea, towards Corſica: And at Leghorn it was heard to give a very great Blow, beyond the Noiſe of a great Cannon; with a Rattling, which continued about a Minute or two. Its Velocity was not leſs than 160 Miles in a Minute: It was of an oval Shape: At 50 Miles Diſtance, its leſſer Diameter was as large to the Eye as the Moon's Diameter, and its larger above half as big again; ſo that its real leſſer Diameter was above half a Mile, and the other more than three quarters of a Mile.’

(3.) The next Meteor of this kind, was that mentioned by Dr. Wallis, Sept. 20. 1676. about 7 at Night, which he deſcribes thus; Philoſophical Tranſact. No. 135."There appeared a ſudden Light, equal to that of Noon-day, ſo that the ſmalleſt Pin or Straw might be ſeen lying on the Ground; and above in the Air was ſeen, (at no great Diſtance, as was ſuppos'd,) a long Appearance as of Fire; like a long Arm, with a great Knob at the End; for ſo it was deſcribed to the Dr. (who did not himſelf ſee it;) [20] ſhooting along very ſwiftly: And at its diſappearing ſeem'd to break into ſmall Sparks or Parcels of Fire, like as Rockets, and ſuch artificial Fire-works in the Air are wont to do. 'Twas ſo ſurprizing, and of ſo ſhort continuance, that it was ſcarce ſeen by any who did not then happen to be abroad; and laſted only while one might tell 15 or 20 at moſt. It was ſeen in moſt of the Southern Counties of England, at or near the ſame time. Nor could the Dr. ſatisfy himſelf which way this Meteor went.’

(4.) The next Meteor of this kind is that mentioned by Kirchius, as ſeen at Leipſick, May 22. 1680. Philoſophical Tranſact. No. 341."about three in the Morning, as deſcending in the North, and leaving behind it a long white Streak. It was ſeen at ſeveral Places 160 Engliſh Miles diſtant from Leipſick, but met with no good Obſervers: as it is no wonder at that time of the Night.’

(5.) The next Meteor of this kind, was ſeen by Kirchius himſelf at Leipſick, July 9. 1686. Ibid."at half an Hour paſt One in the Morning: which mov'd but very little for half a quarter of an Hour; its Diameter was about half as large as that of the Moon: Its Light at firſt was ſuch, you might read by it; but by degrees it vaniſhed away. It was ſeen in many Places at a conſiderable Diſtance from Leipſick; and and was at leaſt 30 Engliſh Miles high.’

(6.) The next Meteor of this kind, that I have met with, was ſeen by Monſ. Feuillee, a curious Ir [...] Obſerver in the South-Sea, May 1 [...]. 1708. about Nine at Night. His Words are theſe: Feuillee's Journal. p 116.We ſaw, ſ ys be, a flying Fire, which being lighted all of a ſudden perfectly reſembled the Planet Venus; it remain;d in the Place where it firſt appear'd for a Minute and a half. I took care to obſerve it, by comparing it with the neareſt of the fixed Stars. On a ſudden it extended it ſelf, and filled all the Horizon with Light, in ſuch a manner, that we might have diſcover'd a Ship [21] in any Part of the Horizon. This Light thus ſpread, laſted but a ſhort time.’

(7.) The next Meteor of this kind, that I have met with, was ſeen by the ſame Obſerver, a little above two Months after the former, in the ſame Voyage, July 17. 1708. His Words are theſe; Ibid. p. 199.In the Night, I ſaw a Phaenomenon very Particular, almoſt like another that I had obſerved in the Northern Parts. As Aſtronomy has been always my chief delight, I was looking up to the Heavens to obſerve the Stars that make all its Beauty, and which compoſe the Southern Conſtellations. When I perceived on a ſudden a Star much greater than Jupiter and Venus, which continuing more than two Minutes in the ſame bigneſs, and without loſing any thing of its Light; I began to think, from its duration, that it was a New Star.—Whilſt I was employ'd in obſerving this New Phaenomenon, it happen'd that this Luminary, as I could properly call it at that time, took Fire all on a ſudden; and,—extending it ſelf throughout all our Hemiſphere, diſcover'd it to us intirely, and made us ſee to the furtheſt Limits of it, ſo that we might have ſeen a Ship at a great diſtance; and, if I may venture to ſay it, even in any Part of the Horizon; from whence, one may judge, how very great this Light muſt have been.’

(8.) The next Meteor of this kind, was ſeen in England, July 31. 1708. between 9 and 10 a Clock at Night. Philoſophical Tranſact. No. 341."It was between 40 and 50 Miles perpendicularly high; and that over Sheerneſs, or the Buoy on the Nore. It was ſeen at London, and in Suffolk, [and no doubt in the neighbouring Parts of England.]’ It appear'd at London to move horizontally, from E. by N. to E. by S. and in Suffolk it appear'd as ſliding obliquely downwards. It was very bright at its firſt Appearance, ſufficient to take up a Pin, and but a little inferior to the Light of the Moon; and it died away at the End of its Courſe, leaving a pale whiteneſs in the Place, without any Noiſe.

[22] This is an Epitome of the ſeveral Hiſtories of Meteors of this Nature, that I have yet met with in the laſt Age.

(9.) Nor do I know of any the like Meteors ſeen ſince, till this before us; Unleſs we reckon that mention'd in our Gazette, and News-Papers, as ſeen over Venice, Feb. 22. laſt. But ſince it does not yet appear that this was ſeen at any conſiderable Diſtance, perhaps it might be ſomewhat of another Nature, and ſuch a Meteor as is ſeveral times ſeen in our lower Air.

III. I ſhall now give ſome Account of Dr. Wallis's Hypotheſis about ſuch Meteors; namely, that they are Comets: with my Reaſons againſt that Hypotheſis.

Now as to this Hypotheſis, take it in the Doctor's own Account, Philoſ. Tranſact. No. 135. as ſet down by Mr. Lowthorp, in his Abridgment of thoſe Tranſactions, ‘"The Breadth of Ground, ſays he, where this Meteor, Sept. 20. 1676. was ſeen, was too much for any ordinary Meteor in our lower Region of the Air to be ſeen in at once; which argues that either it was higher than it was imagin'd to be, (tho' the Light of it reached the Earth,) or elſe that it had a very ſwift Motion. This made me then conjecture, that it might be ſome ſmall Com t, whoſe linea trajectori [...] paſſed very near our Earth, or upon it; and might when farther diſtant from us, appear as a Comet And that Comet, which hath ſince appeared in Apri and May, confirms me in the ſame Opinion; which I conjecture may be the very ſame which paſſed by us in September laſt.’ So far Dr. Wallis. Now tho this Hypotheſis might be tolerable when it was written, before the true Theory and Motions of Comets were diſcover'd by Sir Iſaac Newton, and when the Dr ſeems not to have been acquainted with any other Appearance of the like Nature, yet will it now no way bear. The Reaſon is obvious, viz. becauſe theſe Meteors have no manner of Reſemblance to Comets at all [23] either in their Bigneſs, which is uſually about or under a Mile in Diameter; while Comets are uſually of the Bigneſs of Planets, or ſeveral thouſand Miles in Diameter: or in their Nature, which is that of Light or Fire; while Comets are ever as dark or opake in themſelves as the Planets; or in their Trajectory, which in Comets is a Line deſcending to, and aſcending from the Sun, and nearly parabolical; while theſe Meteors ſtill paſs in a manner parallel to the Earth's Horizon: or in their Velocity, which in theſe Meteors is very different, but in Comets near the Earth is always the ſame; or in their Atmoſpheres, of which theſe Meteors are ſtill deſtitute; but which almoſt always encompaſs the Bodies of Comets, and that to a vaſt Diſtance; or in their Tails, of which we have no Signs in theſe Meteors, but which almoſt as certainly accompany the Comets as do their Atmoſpheres themſelves, as indeed derived from them: or in their viſible Duration, which in theſe Meteors is ſeldom many Minutes, frequently not many Seconds, but in Comets is uſually many Days or Weeks, nay ſometimes Months. To ſay nothing of the Impoſſibility there is that the ſame Comet which was near the Earth in September ſhould continue near it, or approach again to it ſeven or eight Months afterwards, as the Dr. ſuppoſes; when the Earth was then not very far from the oppoſite Point of its Orbit, or more than 100,000,000 Miles diſtant from its former Place. 'Tis therefore certain that theſe Meteors cannot belong to the Species of Bodies we call Comets.

IV. I ſhall now give a like Account of Dr. Halley's Hypotheſis about theſe Meteors; viz. That they are a ſort of fortuitous Collection of ſuch Vapours in the vaſt Void about us, as by Accident only fall into our Atmoſphere, at certain times; without any other relation thereto; with my Reaſons againſt that Hypotheſis.

Dr. Halley gives us his Hypotheſis, Tranſact. No. 341. p. 162. in theſe Words, ‘"I have, ſays he, much conſidered [24] this Appearance, and think it one of the hardeſt things to account for that I have yet met with in the Phaenomena of Meteors; and am induced to think that it muſt be ſome Collection of Matter form'd in the Aether, as it were by ſome fortuitous Concourſe of Atoms; and that the Earth met with it as it paſt along in its Orb, then but newly form'd, and before it had conceiv'd any great Impetus of Deſcent toward the Sun. For the direction of that over Italy was exactly oppoſite to that of the Earth, that is, its Courſe was from W.S.W. to E.N.E. wherefore the Meteor ſeem'd to move the contrary way; and beſides, falling into the Power of the Earth's Gravity, and loſing its Motion from the Oppoſition to the Medium, it ſeems that it deſcended towards the Earth, and was extinguiſh'd in the Tyrrhene Sea, to the Weſt South Weſt of Leghorn. The great Blow being heard upon its firſt Immerſion into the Water, and the rattling like the driving a Cart over Stones, being what ſucceeded upon its quenching; ſomething like which is always obſerv'd upon quenching a very hot Iron in Water.’ Thus far Dr. Halley.

Now the plain Reaſons why I can no way agree to this Hypotheſis, are theſe:

(1.) 'Tis very evident, there neither is, nor can be any ſuch Collection of Vapours form'd in the Aether, as it were by ſome fortuitous Concourſe of Atoms, and without Gravity, which the Dr. here ſuppoſes as the Foundation of his Hypotheſis. Such a Maſs of Matter in an immenſe Vacuum, without any Gravitation to the Sun, the Dr. well knows is a mere Chimaera, contradicting all the certain Philoſophy in the World. Nor can it be poſſibly ſuppos'd but by immediate Creation out of nothing, or by it ſelf emerging out of nothing, without being created, before it could be thus collected together; neither of which Notions, I imagine, will be juſtify'd by the Dr. himſelf, in his cool Thoughts. But let us for once ſuppoſe ſuch Maſſes of fiery Matter frequently collected in the Aether, tho' we know they cannot poſſibly be ſo collected; yet is it evident,

[25] (2.) That if ſuch Meteors as theſe were thence deriv'd, they would appear at all ſorts of Diſtances, within the reach of their Light, or within the reach of a thouſand or two of Miles: For a Body ſo large, and a Light ſo nearly equal to that of the Sun, as theſe have, would certainly be viſible ſo far; whereas it does not appear, that any of them have been yet ſeen ſo far as 50 Miles from the Earth.

(3.) Theſe Meteors would, on ſuch an Hypotheſis, be equally of all Magnitudes whatſoever; ſuch fortuitous Productions, if ſuch there were, going for certain by no Rule at all: Whereas thoſe above-mentioned ſeem never to have been of a larger Size than this laſt, which was about a Mile in Diameter; and the reſt of no very great Variety therefrom.

(4.) They would and muſt all, upon this Hypotheſis, as the Dr. allows, in theſe Climates, go nearly with the ſame Velocity, and in the ſame Courſe, as to our Sight, i. e. from Eaſt to Weſt; becauſe their Motion being only apparent, muſt be deriv'd from the Earth's Motions, Annual and Diurnal, which are from Weſt to Eaſt, both the ſame way, and of one tenor. Whereas theſe Meteors go uncertainly, and without any regard to thoſe Motions at all. Accordingly, this laſt went almoſt directly South, and much faſter than even the annual Motion it ſelf; entirely contrary to this Hypotheſis.

(5.) If theſe Balls of Light or Fire were ſuch Maſſes as did not belong to our Atmoſphere, but only paſs'd through it accidentally, as Dr. Halley ſuppoſes; why do we not ſee them before our Atmoſphere reaches them? and after it leaves them, whenever it does ſo, as well as while they paſs through it? not to ſay, that the firſt Collection, as well as laſt Diſſolution of theſe Meteors, does, by the Obſervations themſelves appear, both to begin and end within the Limits of that Atmoſphere, and thereby ſhew they properly belong to it, entirely contrary to the Dr's. Hypotheſis.

(6.) If this was the Origin of theſe Meteors, why do they ſeldom or never hit againſt the Body of the [26] Earth it ſelf, or terraqueous Globe, but againſt the Air? Or rather, why does the Body of the Earth or terraqueous Globe, ſeldom or never hit againſt theſe Meteors, but only the Air, nay the upper Regions of the Air? Why do theſe Meteors ſeldom or never deſtroy a City, or burn up a Fleet, as well as paſs over our Heads, without doing us any Damage? The Earth's Diameter is near 8000 Miles; the Altitude of any ſenſible Atmoſphere, as Dr. Halley has fully prov'd, is not 50 Miles, and thence the Diameter of the whole, not 8100 Miles. Now the Disk or biggeſt Circle of the larger Sphere will be to the Disk or biggeſt Circle of the ſmaller here, as the Squares of thoſe Numbers, or nearly as 40 to 41, and the Difference of thoſe Squares, or the Hazard of ſuch a Ball's hitting againſt the Earth, or the Atmoſphere, will be as the ſmaller Number to the Difference of thoſe Numbers, or as 40 to 1. Nay, ſince only the upper Regions of the Air, for in them alone theſe Meteors have been ſeen, are to be compar'd with the Earth; it will appear on a like Calculation, that the Hazard of ſuch a Ball's hitting againſt the Earth, is to that of its hitting againſt the upper Parts of the Atmoſphere, at leaſt as 100 to 1, or that, one with another, 100 of theſe terrible Meteors will hit againſt the Earth it ſelf, and deſtroy all before them, for one that hits againſt the upper Regions of the Air; and above 100 will hit againſt either the Earth, or lower Regions of the Air, for one that hits againſt thoſe upper Regions; to which yet we ſee Providence uſually, if not always confines them. I ſay that theſe Meteors ſeem ſeldom or never to hit againſt the terraqueous Globe it ſelf.

'Tis true, Dr. Halley imagines, that thoſe which go off with a Report, as the principal certainly, and all probably do, muſt fall into the Sea, and in quenching make that Noiſe we hear after theſe Meteors, and that one of thoſe already mentioned deſcended towards the Earth, and was extinguiſhed particularly in the Tyrrhene Sea. But then, ſince that is a bare Hypotheſis, and without any Fact or Hiſtory to ſupport it, nay contrary to the known Obſervations themſelves, [27] while Dr. Hook's Account, ſet down as above, aſſures us, that the Italian Meteor which Dr. Halley ſuppos'd to fall into the Sea, only ſet behind a Cloud, I ſhall not need to confute it any farther. In ſhort, this whole Hypotheſis ſeems to me ſo very weak, that it can only be excus'd and forgiven on account of the many other noble and truly excellent Performances of its Author. Tho' I confeſs I think this Author ſhould not eaſily forgive himſelf in one thing, I mean that odd Inſinuation here made, as if there might be a formation of Meteors, at leaſt, if not of other Bodies alſo, as it were by ſome fortuitous Concourſe of Atoms; which, I venture to ſay it, is, at this time of Day eſpecially, as little agreeable to ſound Philoſophy, as to all the Notions we have of Providence and Religion.

V. I ſhall now propoſe a New Hypotheſis of my own, for the Solution of theſe Appearances, viz. That they are no other than prodigious Storms, or Blaſts of Thunder and Lightening in the upper Regions of our Air: With my Reaſons for that Hypotheſis.

Having therefore now given my Reaſons, why I cannot at all go into the Notions of either Dr. Wallis, or Dr. Halley in this Matter; I come to my own Hypotheſis, or Conjecture; ſo I ſhall yet call it: Tho' I confeſs the Evidence for it ſeems to me ſo ſtrong, that, if the future Phaenomena of this kind do confirm it, as much as I think thoſe do which we are hitherto acquainted withal, it may perhaps hereafter merit a higher Denomination.

My Opinion therefore concerning ſuch Meteors, is plainly this, That they properly deſerve that Name of Meteors, as belonging directly to our Atmoſphere; and that they are no other than prodigious Storms or blaſts of Thunder and Lightening, of ſuch Thunder and Lightening, as is proper and peculiar to thoſe more elevated Regions of our Air in which they appear. In order to the true underſtanding of my meaning in which Hypotheſis, the Reader muſt obſerve, that the Air at 39 Miles high, is, by Dr. Halley's Calculation, [28] agreed to now by all, about 2000 times rarer and weaker than it is here with us; that a Storm or Blaſt of this kind, even here below, ſeems to be a Collection of nitro-ſulphureous and fiery Vapors, into a ſort of a rolling Globe, or Whirl-wind of Fire; that this is that Fulmen or pernicious Lightning, which is ſo terrible in its Effects; that it is ſtill accompanied with that Fulgur or Flaſh, we call common Lightening, and with that Tonitru, that great rolling or rattling Noiſe which we call Thunder; and that ſuch Collections of nitro-ſulphureous or fiery Vapors may be vaſtly larger before they are limited or determined by the external Air, which by rarefaction is excluded from within, where it is ſo vaſtly rare, than the like Collections are with us: That the prodigious Velocity of ſuch Balls may alſo be better ſuppos'd in ſuch a rare and thin Medium, than in ours, ſo much denſer and thicker; and that ſo much the greater Quantity of nitro-ſulphureous Vapors will be ſpent and exhauſted by one ſuch Ball or Blaſt, than by one of ours here below, as it is in Magnitude greater; which will alſo render ſuch Phaenomena in the ſame Proportion rarer and ſeldomer in any certain region there than here.

Theſe things being ſuppoſed, which appear to me very reaſonable; it will be a natural Account of theſe Phaenomenona, if we eſteem them direct Blaſts of this kind. For certainly theſe Fire-balls, as we have ſhew'd, are ſtill within the Limits of our Air, the Place of ſuch Meteors: They have all the three Characters of ſuch, and only of ſuch Blaſts; the Fulmen, the Ball or Whirlwind of pernicious Lightening; the Fulgur, the Flaſh or common Lightening; and the Tonitra, the Noiſe or Thunder. They go with a Swiftneſs which we have no Examples of here in any Meteors, unleſs it be in ſuch Thunder and Lightening. So that I do not ſee room for much doubt in the Caſe. 'Tis true, the rareneſs of the Air above, will, as in all like Caſes, greatly deaden and damp the ſound of the Thunder; as no doubt it does; but this is no great difficulty here, becauſe the prodigious Vaſtneſs of the Blaſt, if it be at all ſo much more violent as [29] the Fire-ball is greater in Quantity, as it muſt naturally be, will abundantly make up that Defect, and afford us a ſufficient Sound notwithſtanding; as will appear preſently by Calculation. I do not indeed know any mechanical Power, that in ſuch a fluid Medium as the Air, can cauſe ſo ſudden, and ſo prodigious a Collection of fiery Vapors, and carry them in one particular horizontal Direction with ſuch an immenſe Velocity as we here meet with. But then, I am equally at a loſs for the mechanical Cauſe of the ſtrange Effects of Gun-powder, and of the like Cauſe of the Velocity, Force, and Direction of Thunder and Lightening, and indeed of many other Powers of Nature; of whoſe Exiſtence, yet, there is no manner of Queſtion. So that if it appear, that this Meteor is no other than a Blaſt of Thunder and Lightening, ſuch as is proper and peculiar to the higher Regions of the Air, as I hope it now does; we ought not to object this Difficulty againſt the preſent Solution, which is built on the known Properties of nitroſulphureous Vapors in all ſuch Exploſions, whether of Gun-powder below, or of Thunder and Lightening a little above.

And now, for a Concluſion, I ſhall Obſerve a few things which may, on this Occaſion, deſerve the Attention of the Curious.

Note (1.) That ſuch a Collection of nitroſulphureous Vapours as this, of a Mile in Diameter, is to ſuch a Collection of the like Vapours in the largeſt Thunder-Storms here below, of ſcarce 20 Feet Diameter, as the Cubes of thoſe Diameters, or as 16,000,000 to 1. So that the Exploſion or Force of ſuch a Ball of Fire as this would naturally, as to Light, Sound, and Strength, be in the ſame Proportion alſo. Whence it is queſtionable, whether if all the Gunpowder now in the World were laid together, and fir'd at once, it could make an Exploſion equal to this before us.

Note (2.) That therefore it is no Wonder that the Sound of this Exploſion was heard at the Diſtance of at leaſt 80 or 100 Miles from the Exploſion it ſelf, even through that upper Air, where it is about 2000 times [30] rarer, and therefore in the ſame Proportion weaker than it is here below.

Note (3.) That therefore if this Ball of Fire had been directed downward, and come into our lower Air, and been there exploded, its Sound, at the ſame Diſtances, would have been about 2000 times as great as it now was, So that beſides the ſad Deſolation that might ariſe from the Ball of Fire, which would have been vaſtly ſudden and terrible, the very Sound or Concuſſion of the Air would it ſelf have been exceeding dreadful, and very fatal alſo to all the neighbouring Animals, Trees, and Buildings whatſoever. Some of the ſmaller Meteors of this kind afford no Sound at this Diſtance; but the larger ſort, of which the laſt was the Principal, did ſo always to a great Degree, as the foregoing Hiſtories inform us.

Note (4.) That therefore a ſmaller Meteor of this ſort, or ſuch as ſome of the foregoing Hiſtories deſcribe, if it ſhould deſcend to the Earth, would be abundantly ſufficient utterly to deſtroy a particular City; and ſuch an one as this, no ſmall part of a County, and that in an inſtant, without giving the leaſt room for foreknowing, preventing, or eſcaping from the ſame.

Note (5.) That we know of no mechanical Cauſes that can prevent ſuch a Deſcent of theſe Meteors downwards: For as our common Thunder and Lightening certainly do, and that not ſeldom, deſcend from the Clouds to the Earth, and make leſſer Deſtructions there, ſo do ſome of the beſt Obſervations incline us to allow that even this, as well as others of theſe Meteors, have a little deſcended in their Courſe alſo. Nor in caſe of the original Direction downwards, do I know any ſufficient Obſtacle our lower Air, how denſe ſoever, could lay in its way; the Strength and Velocity of ſuch a Meteor, vaſtly exceeding any ſuch inconſiderable Reſiſtance. Yet it is to be noted,

(6.) That our late Hiſtories of thoſe Meteors of this kind, whoſe Heights have been meaſur'd, never give leſs than 30 Miles Altitude to any of them. Whence it appears, that the Great and Good Author of Nature [31] has generally, in the Courſe of his Providence, confin'd them to the upper Regions of our Air, and preſerv'd the lower Parts of it, with the Inhabitants of the Earth and Seas, from the diſmal Effects of them; tho' that Confinement and Preſervation be provided for by Cauſes which no way appear to us at preſent.

(7.) That we accordingly have no certain Accounts of any great Deſtruction brought upon Mankind by ſuch Meteors, excepting that amazing and divine Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the Sacred Scriptures record, and to which all the Heathen Accounts alſo agree. The Scriptures deſcribe it thus: Gen. xix. 24, 25, 26. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah Brimſtone and Fire, from the Lord out of Heaven. And he overthrew thoſe Cities, and all the Plain, and all the Inhabitants of the Cities, and that which grew upon the Ground. But Lot's Wife looked back from behind him, and ſhe became a Pillar of Salt.— v. 28. And the Smoak of the Countrey went up as the Smoak of a Furnace. Which is elſewhere alluded to alſo by Moſes, in theſe Words; Deut. xxix. 23. The whole Land thereof is Brimſtone, and burning Salt; that it is not ſown, nor beareth, nor any Graſs groweth therein; like the Overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his Anger, and in his Wrath.

Diodorus Siculus ſays, that Places near this Aſphaltites, or Lake of Bitumen, Diodor. XIX. are fiery, and of an ill Savor, and make the Bodies of the Inhabitants ſickly, and altogether ſhort-liv'd.

Strabo ſays, Strabo XVI. There are many Indications of a burning Soil here:—which confirm the Tradition of the Inhabitants adjoining, which ſay, There were therein of old thirteen Cities, the Principal of which was Sodom; whoſe Circuit is ſtill ſhewn of 60 Furlongs; and that the Lake aroſe from Earthquakes, with the Eruptions of Fire, and of hot and brimſtony Waters: whereby the Stones took Fire, while ſome of the Cities were ſwallowed up, and others deſerted by thoſe who could get away.

[32] Tacitus ſays, that Tacit. V. vid. Plin. v. 16. Theſe Plains are related to have been anciently very fruitful, and with great Cities in them: but that they were burnt by a Blaſt of Thunder and Lightening; the Footſteps of which remain: That the Land looks burnt, and has loſt its Fertility: becauſe all things that grew there, whether of their own Accord, or by Culture of the Labourer, both the Herb and the Flower, when they ſeem nearly ripe, become black and empty, and ſeem to vaniſh away into Aſhes.

Solinus ſays, Solin. c. 36. There is a large Bay, that opens itſelf a great way from Jeruſalem, which was ſtricken from Heaven, as a black Soil that turns into Aſhes: There were there two Cities, Sodom and Gomorrah by Name, the Apple of which Places, when it ſeems to be ripe, cannot be chewed; for the paring on the outſide, which is thin, contains within nothing but Soot and Aſhes; which when you preſs it never ſo little with your Hand, ſends out Smoak, and vaniſhes away into Duſt diſpers'd by the Wind.

Now how exactly theſe Deſcriptions agree to a Countrey deſtroy'd by ſuch a terrible Meteor as this, I dare appeal to all ſober and conſiderate Naturaliſts: while the Rain of Fire and Brimſtone, or of Brimſtone on Fire, with nitrous Salts intermixed, is here literally true: while the Smoak like the Smoak of a Furnace, is alſo literally true: it being evident in Fact, that all Vulcano's, great Guns, and ſuch Meteors as theſe, directly leave a mighty Smoak after their Exploſion: while the Salt Lake itſelf would eaſily thence ariſe, by the Penetration of ſuch fierce and fiery Particles into the Bowels of a Countrey, which was full of Slime-pits Gen. xiv. 10. already, and ſo prepared to take Fire: while it would thus eaſily deſtroy itſelf by a Subverſion, an Overthrow, or an Earthquake, and thereupon admit the Waters of the River Jordan, from the neighbouring Sea of the Plain, and would infect them with its nitrous and ſulphureous Vapours, and ſo become one great Salt, or Dead Sea, for all future Generations: while the Remains of all this would naturally produce ſuch a barren Soil, full of Smoak and Aſhes, as [33] we find adjoyning to the Salt Sea, by the foregoing Deſcriptions. This nitroſulphureous Shower would alſo naturally fall on Lot's Wife, while ſhe ſtayed a little behind, looking back, as not fully believing God's threatning concerning this terrible Deſtruction, and would not only kill her in an inſtant, but render her Body immediately ſtiff and fixed, in the ſame Poſture wherein ſhe was when it fell on her; which is no uncommon Circumſtance with us, when any Perſons have been kill'd by Lightening; and which would render her a ſtanding Pillar of Salt, of Nitrous Salt, in a literal Senſe; however, a Pillar of Salt for Perpetuity, or a laſting Monument of this terrible Judgment for future Generations. And ſo it prov'd, for it was ſtill in Being ſeveral Years after our Saviour's Death,See Luk. xvii 32. as the Jewiſh Hiſtorian Joſephus himſelf aſſures us,Joſeph. Antiq. I. 12. and whoſe Words ſeem to imply, that himſelf had ſeen it alſo.

Note (8.) That one great ordinary Intention and Uſe of theſe Meteors ſeems to be the ſame with that of the Tides for the Sea; and of Storms, whether of Wind, or of Thunder and Lightening, for the lower Air; I mean not only the agitating the Air, but chiefly the purging and purifying of it, by ſpending and conſuming ſuch noxious Steams and Exhalations, as otherwiſe might be pernicious to Mankind, to the Bruit Animals, and to the other Inhabitants thereof, if ſuch there be. I ſay, this ſeems to me at leaſt one of the Uſes of Thunder and Lightening, both here below, and there above; without preſuming to deny that there may be other Uſes of the ſame, or that theſe, as well as other Meteors, may be farther intended by Providence for Purpoſes which we have at preſent no certain Means of diſcovering. It does not follow, that becauſe the fixed Stars are very uſeful to us in Aſtronomy, that therefore Providence only deſigned them for that End. And the Caſe is the ſame in other Inſtances.

Note (9.) That there ſeem to have been of late more uncommon Meteors ſeen than have been uſual [34] in the like Space of Time. Thus we have had at leaſt Eight or Nine of the Meteors of this kind taken Notice of in theſe Parts of the World, within 53 Years; while we know not where to find ſo many in a much longer Space in any elder Hiſtories. Thus alſo there have been more frequent and remarkable Aurorae Boreales, or Northern Lights, obſerv'd within ſomewhat more than three Years laſt paſt, than appear in our Hiſtorians, in a much longer Space. To ſay nothing of that pale Light like Twilight, which is chiefly ſeen between the Horizon and the Pleiades, about the End of February, and Beginning of March, which ſome have thought to be peculiar to the laſt 70 or 80 Years. Nor can it well be ſaid, that all this has happened only by the Negligence of the elder Writers in tranſmitting ſuch Things to us: Since, on the contrary, they have generally been but over Superſtitious in ſetting down ſuch ſtrange Appearances, and of noting how ominous they thought them to Mankind.

Note (10.) That it no way appears that the frequenter Phaenomena of theſe ſorts, have yet had any ill Influence on the natural World. The Seaſons, the Air, with the Fruits of the Earth, and the living Creatures, ſeeming in general to have received hitherto no Damage thereby. And certainly, if they tend to purge the Air, as I imagine, they may have received no ſmall Benefit from them. Nay indeed, in caſe they ſhould be deriv'd from any conſiderable or general Change in our Air of late, I ſhould think it more probable that ſuch Change was for the Benefit and Advantage of the ſame, than the contrary.

Note (11.) That we have no reaſon to ſuppoſe that Comets, or Northern Lights, or theſe Meteors before us, with the like more unuſual Phaenomena of Nature, are properly and generally ominous, or directly forebode any future Judgments to the World, or to particular Nations, or Parties therein, as the Vulgar are apt to imagine. They are indeed, with other celeſtial Phaenomena, naturally Invitations to the abſtracting our Minds from continually poring on things below; they call on us to look upwards, to the Works of [35] God that are above us; to his ſuperior Providence, and to a proper Dependance on him. They preach to us this Doctrine, That God has it always in his Power to preſerve or deſtroy the World, and all the Creatures therein, as he pleaſes; and this without any new Miracles. But they are, I think, of themſelves, and generally ſpeaking, no proper Indications of impending Judgments, or of God's Will to puniſh or deſtroy any Part of his Creatures. It may be indeed juſtly eſteem'd a great Sign of the Guilt and conſcious Wickedneſs of Mankind in general; that all ſuch extraordinary Phaenomena are ſtill interpreted to the worſe Senſe, as Fore-runners of Wars, Famines, Plagues, &c. but they are not, I believe, any Signs that God is really and particularly at ſuch times bringing thoſe or the like Judgments upon them. However, I have ſo fully ſpoken my Mind of this Matter, and of the Limitations and Reſtrictions thereto belonging, in my Account of the former ſurpriſing Meteor, March 6. 1716. pag. 74-77. that I ſhall not repeat it here, but refer the Reader thither, who deſires farther Satisfaction. I conclude with one more important Obſervation, which is this:

Note (12.) That we ought here to obſerve, and to acknowledge the good Providence of God, the great Author of univerſal Nature, of the Air in particular, with its ſurpriſing Wonders; and the great Diſpoſer and Director of them all, in uſually confining the terrible Meteors of this kind to the upper Regions of the Air, and not permitting them to deſcend low enough to hurt us here below. And this deſerves more particularly our regard, becauſe we know of no mechanical Cauſes that can hinder their Direction downward; and becauſe we know that ordinary Thunder-blaſts are frequently ſo directed, and this ſometimes to the terrible Deſtruction of Buildings and Animals here below. Let us but conſider, what has been above ſhewn, how certainly ſuch a deſcending Ball or Whirlwind of Fire and Brimſtone as this, which was a full Mile in Diameter, and mov'd at the rate of at leaſt 2000 Miles in a Minute, might have conquer'd all the Reſiſtance [36] of our lower Air; and in a moment, before it could have been in the leaſt foreſeen, or provided againſt by any, might have deſtroy'd ſuch a City as London it ſelf. How inevitably, how immediately, ſuch a famous Emporium might then have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah; Iſ. i. 9. and not one Perſon might have eſcaped to tell the ſad News to the reſt of the World? This would not ſeldom be the natural Reſult of ſuch Blaſts here below, which are frequently ſeen above, did not the divine Providence, by ſome Means unknown to us, reſtrain their Courſe, and ſix them their Bounds which they cannot paſs; Pſ. civ. 9. and ſay, hitherto ſhall ye come, and no further; and in ſuch a Place above ſhall your proud Waves, or Blaſts be ſtayed. Job xxxviii. 11. This is the rational, the religious Conſequence; this is the juſt and the pious Inference, which the Conſideration of ſuch ſurprizing Meteors, ſuch wonderful Works of him that dwelleth in the Heavens naturally ſuggeſts to us. I therefore end my Diſcourſe on this, nearly as I did that on the former Meteor; O ye Fire and Heat, O ye Lightenings and Clouds; O ye Children of Men, bleſs ye the Lord; praiſe and exalt him above all for ever. Song of the three Children v. 43, 50, 56.

Appendix A POSTSCRIPT.

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I Have juſt now got ſome good Obſervations of this Meteor from our famous Obſervatory at Greenwich, and what Accounts were there received, viz. that to us about London it aroſe from or but little under the Seven Stars, which were then half a Point from the Weſt to the North, at the Altitude of 22° or 23°, that it proceeded above 40° upon the Horizon, till it came under the Sword of Orion, near the South Weſt, and about the Altitude of 15°; that the time of its Appearance was nearly 11′ after 8, and that it laſted about 6″, making a hiſſing Noiſe as it paſſed along. All which confirms what I have already advanc'd, and particularly implies what I have noted above, That the Meteor had the greateſt Elevation at firſt, or was not much leſs than 50 Miles high, which is nearly the utmoſt Limit of our Atmoſphere; that it gradually deſcended lower till it came over Devonſhire, where it was about 39 Miles high; and that where it brake, over the Sea, and over Bretaign in France, its Altitude could not be very much above 30 Miles.

As to the Monaſtery burnt in France, it was the Day before the Appearance of this Meteor, and ſo had no Relation to it. And the like is to be ſaid of ſome other Accidents elſewhere, none of which appear to have at all been occaſion'd by it.

W.W.

Appendix B BOOKS writ by W. WHISTON, M.A.

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  • I. THE Elements of Euclid, with ſelect Theorems out of Archimedes. By the Learned Andrew Tacquet. To which are added, Practical Corollaries, ſhewing the Uſes of many of the Propoſitions. The whole abridg'd, and in this Third Edition publiſh'd in Engliſh.
  • II. Aſtronomical Lectures read in the Publick Schools at Cambridge. Whereunto is added, a Collection of Aſtronomical Tables; being thoſe of Mr. Flamſteed, corrected; Dr. Halley; Monſieur Caſſini; and Mr. Street. For the Uſe of Young Students in the Univerſity. And now done into Engliſh.
  • III. An Account of a ſurprizing Meteor ſeen in the Air, March the 16th, 1715-16. at Night. Containing, 1. A Deſcription of this Meteor, from the Author's own Obſervations. 2. Some Hiſtorical Accounts of the like Meteors before; with Extracts from ſuch Letters and Accounts of this, as the Author has receiv'd. 3. The principal Phaenomena of this Meteor. 4. Conjectures for their Solution. 5. Reaſons why our Solutions are ſo imperfect. 6. Inferences and Obſervations from the Premiſes. The Second Edition.
  • IV. An humble and ſerious Addreſs to the Princes and States of Europe, to Admit, or at leaſt openly to Tolerate the Chriſtian Religion in their Dominions.
  • V. Sir Iſaac Newton's Mathematick Philoſophy more eaſily Demonſtrated.
  • VI. Aſtronomical Principles of Religion, Natural and Revealed.
  • [] VII. His Account of Dr. Sacheverell's Proceedings, in order to Exclude him from St. Andrew's Church in Holborn. The Fourth Edition.
  • VIII. His Letter of Thanks to the Right Reverend the Lord Biſhop of London, for his late Letter to his Clergy againſt the Uſe of New Forms of Doxology, &c.
  • IX. His Second Letter to the Lord Biſhop of London on the ſame Subject.
  • X. His Scripture Politicks; or, an impartial Account of the Origin and Meaſures of Government Eccleſiaſtical and Civil, taken out of the Books of the Old and New Teſtament. With a Poſtſcript relating to the Report of the Committee of Convocation about the Biſhop of Bangor's Preſervative, and Sermon before the King. To which is ſubjoin'd the Suppoſal; or a New Scheme of Government. Firſt Publiſh'd A.D. 1712. and now reprinted.

All Printed for J. SENEX, at the Globe in Salisbury-Court; and W. TAYLOR, at the Ship in Pater-Noſter-Row.

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