Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-16
MErEohIC STONES.

These peculiar solid comp earthly and metal.
lie matters, OF singular aspect and hich
onally descend from the atmosphere usually from the
bosom ola luminous meteor Thi- phenon euon obs rv,s
learned uiho affords an nsrn live example OF the tri
uiGph oi human testimony philosophical sctptcsn
The chronicles Of almost bN recorded fall
OF poDderous stony earthly from The air
evidence bad been rejected by historians forSon
ply While all Europe, says the celebrated VaUqncirn,
resonded with the rumnur at stones faen the
yensi ard while philosophers distracted in opinion
framing hSp"htes 10 explain iheir origin each according
20 hts fancy, the Hon. Mr. Howard able En.lish
chemist, pursuing in silence the only which could
lead 10 solution oftne pro-m. He collected specimens
that had fallen at different times procured a. muh
sic"l external characters of these bsdes did
more in suJectng them to chemical Analysis by
ingenious exact II results from bis researches
stones which fell In England, in Italy, in Germany
Gas Indies and in other places have all rerfec;
seuibauce thar IL Is almost Impossible distinguish
from each other; and what renders the smiude more
perfect and more striking is that ey are composed Of The
same principles, and nearly in the proportions"
remarkable, that all the stones, whenever anu where
they have been descended far they have been
examined consist OF the substances have nothing
similar To themselves in all the minerals that hhe
been discovered earth They are ali covered with
thin of deep black colour, ou glass AVID
their sur1necis roughened with small asperes Internal
~ they greyish snd af granulated texture
less fine -Four different substances are among
their texture easily di,tineuisable by tens Magnetic
iron combined iron and sulphur metal called nckle,
connecting earthly matter into composition of
meieoric The solitary OF nniye iron that
have been found IN Siberia South America and elsewhere
likewise agree in the circumstance Of being alloy ofiron
ard nickel Hence n similar origin has been aserbed to
them-Langcr anu irenaTd found chrome also, 10 prOpor
tinn of about per cent in different which
they examined In all the instances in Which these
have been supposed 70 fall from the clouds, and Of which
worthy account has been given luminous meteor
oding with loud noise, has Immediately preceded, and
hence mas been looked 20 as tue cause The stones have
been likewise more ~ less hot, when found Immediately
after their fall Different opinions however, have been
terai' ed with respect to their origin and indeed IL is in
VOWED in little difficulty. Some have supposed them
To be- projected from Toranoes while others have suggest
ed That they might be- thrown from the NOON the bodies
wandering through space and length brought within the
sphere of attraction Of planet These ideas
chance work much satisfy the philosophical enqni
rer ana for part, ndulCe conjerture
We think the hypothesis of President Day Yale College
entitled 10 most credit lie suppOses these be
lille worlds moving around globe, and aud then,
~ SOME agency other sending OF parts Of their
stance TO Tue earth " 4 AdUo.