The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-11-15

Comnosed of lnflamablc air, Which rs
con,inually exhaling hydrogen gas, phos-
porous, carbouic acid gas, and occasion
ally saiphurous vapours. These gases
readily lnfame from great variety of
natural causes, to which they are perpet-
ually exposed. They may he infiamed
by electricity, OF by heat generated dur
ing the decomposition Of animal or veg
e,abIe materials. Now this mass of gas
being on fire will burn till its infamma-
BILE principle is destroyed. In proper
lion to its greater or less degree of COM
bustible power, it will pour forth great
er or less degree of light. From the lew
| ity of the burning vapour, it will wave,
To and fro, in the currents of the air,
like any gas light exposed to the wind;
sometimes flaming higher and again
sinking down to feeble flicker; thus
constantly moving before the spectator,
and assuming different forms and colours,
according to the varying density of the
fog through which il is seen. A friend
of mine, says Rev. John Mitchell, return
ing from abroad late in the evening, had
to cross u strip of marsh. AS he APP
proached the causeway, he noticed a
light towards the opposite end, which
he supposed to be n lantern in the hand
of some person whom he was about to
meet. Ii proved however to be solta-
ry flame few inches above the marsh,
ut the distance of few feet from the
edge Of the causeway. He stopped some
time to- look at il, and was strongly
tempted, notwithstanding the wariness of
the place, to get nearer to it, for the
purpose of closer examination. 1t was
evidently a vnpour issuing from the mud
and becoming ignited or luminous, in
coutact with the air. 1t exhibited flick
ering appearance, like that Of a candle
expiring in its socket; alternately burn
ing with large flame, and then sinking
to "A small taper; and occasionally for Il
moment become quite extinct. 1t con-
stantly appeared over the same spot.
This gentleman remarks that the loco
motive power with which these meteors
seem to be endowed, is probably appa-
rent only, not real. As the light dwin-
dies away, it will be seen to move from
you, and with a velocity proportioned
to the rapidly of its diminution. Again
as it grows larger, 1t will appear to ap-
proach you. If it expires by several
chickering's or flashes, it will seem to skip
from you, and when it re-appears you
will easily imagine that it has assumed
new position.
tits sometimes thought that you cannot
approach an ignis fatuus that it will re-
cede as rapidly as you advance. This
is probably the effect of imagination
In a misty night traveller easily mis-
takes one of these lights for the light of
II neighboring house, and going in pur-
suit Of it. he finds hedges and bogs and
mire, till he is led to the middle of n
swamp. 1t is stated by Mr.. Mitchell that
a man left his neighbor's house late in
the evening, and at daylight he had not
reached his own, a quarter of a mile dis
tant; al which his family being concern
ed, number of persons went to search
for him. We found him near a swamp,
. with soiled cloths, and a thoughtful coun-
tenance, reclining by fence. The ac-
count he gave was that he had been led
into the swamp by n jack olantern. His
story was M doubt true, and yet had lit
tie of the marvellous in il. The night
being dark and The maa's senses being a
little d'sordered withal by glass to-,
much of his neighbor's cherry, on ap.
proachi & his house he saw "A light, and
not suspecting that it was not upon his
own mantel, made towards it. A bush
or bog might have led t. the same place,
If Inc had happened To take it for his CHM
ney top. These are some ofthe marshy
lights which cannot as yet be scienlfica-
ly explained. But repeated observations
and successive experiments are remov-
. ing one difficulty after another, and the
. time may ye, come when the science OF
meteors shall be as simple and satisfac-
tory as any other which elucidates the
mysteries of nature.