An account of a surprizing meteor, seen in the air, March the 6th, 1715/16, at night. Containing, I. A description of this meteor, from the author's own observations. II. Some historical accounts of the like meteors before; with extracts from such letters, and accounts of this, as the author has receiv'd. III. The principal phænomena of this meteor. IV. Conjectures for their solution. V. Reasons why our solutions are so imperfect. VI. Inferences and observations from the premises / By William Whiston, M. A.

  • Whiston, William, 1667-1752.
Date:
1716
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of a surprizing meteor, seen in the air, March the 6th, 1715/16, at night. Containing, I. A description of this meteor, from the author's own observations. II. Some historical accounts of the like meteors before; with extracts from such letters, and accounts of this, as the author has receiv'd. III. The principal phænomena of this meteor. IV. Conjectures for their solution. V. Reasons why our solutions are so imperfect. VI. Inferences and observations from the premises / By William Whiston, M. A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/88 (page 29)
    C ] letter II. - - *' + l / . Watford, [North amfton(hlrt\ Reverend Sir, MarchS. 171^6, \*t '4 f n _ * * j. On. Tuefday laft, about a Quarter before 7 in the Evening, one of my Servants came to me in a.great Fright 5 and begg’d of me to come out immediately, for there were Two Armies fighting in the Sky. I haflen d to the Door, which opens almoft full North • and indeed every thing was dread¬ ful. The Beginning I did not fee ; but at my firft coming out, the Appearance of the Hea¬ vens from North- Eaft (from whence it feem’d to me to have firft rifen, by the conftant Sup¬ ply that always came from thence) to full Northy and full Eaft, was in long Streams, fome- thing refembling the Pipes of an Organ 5 b5t with a mod Glorious Light, appearing thro* the Intervals, This Light was continually in Mo- don ; fometimes every where, fometimes in par¬ ticular Places i And fometimes Two different Lights came with great feeming Fury againft each other ; and having met together, each rolld gently back, like two Waves that have dafh d themfelves in their Oppofition. About 7 a Clock, there arofe a feeming Fire and Smoke in the North-Eaft : So then we thought, what we had feen was the Effeft of a Fire at fome Neighbouring Town. But in about 2 Minutes Time, there was fuch a feem¬ ing Fire and Smoke, that if the whole City of London had been all on fire, it would not have look’d half fo big. This extended it jfelf to ai¬ med