Faraday to Henry William Pickersgill   18 September 1832

Royal Institution | Sept 18, 1832

My dear Sir

Your account of the meteor or whatever else it might be has greatly excited my curiosity and I venture to send you the following questions. If Mr Wordsworth¹ or any sure witness could answer them it would be very important to the matter[.] Common people are so generally in the habit of filling up their evidence on such subjects when dif[f]erent from their own suppositions that I am very anxious that the present having been witnessed by men of philosophical & correct habits of observation should also be described by them[.] Now for my questions[.]

Did the meteor appear as a ball or a spark of fire? i.e was its outline distinct or was it so brilliant that outline could not be perceived. In other words I may say did it look like the moon definite in form or like a large bright fire at a distance quite indefinite except as a center of light?

If of definite outline how large might its diameter be in a direction across the course of the ball. This might be judged of by supposing an orange moved to or from the eye until its angular magnitude would cover the meteor as seen from any particular station[.]

How far were the observers from it?

Did it move in a vertical inclined or horizontal direction? At what angle might it approach the surface of the lake? Or was its course curvilinear?

Was it near the mountain or merely between it & the eye?

Was its first appearance observed?

A luminous body moving very fast across the direction between it & the observer appears merely as a line of light. Did this appear so or did it move so slowly as to appear distinctly like a ball or a spark?

Did it move to or from the observer of across the line of vision?

Did it distinctly cut ducks & drakes on the surface of the lake? Were its bounds perceived & traced by the eye?

Did it seem smaller or dimmer after each bound as if somewhat diminished each time?

How did it disappear?

------------------------- on water or land?

------------------------- of a sudden or slowly?

Did it produce whole vapour or steam?

If so was there fresh production at each bound on the water i.e each contact with it?

Is it known whether any magnets or compass needles near its course have been affected?

Was any wave produced in the lake? or turbidness?

Were any fish killed? Floating afterwards upon the surface[?]

Was there much sound with it i.e at the time or after it?

Was there much rain immediately after & was it very local?

Was there other thunder & lightning before or after?

I think you said no traces either of mechanical rupture or of burning could afterwards be discovered in its course: is that so; or have none been discovered since?²

I think it is high time to conclude and am

My dear Sir | Most Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Henry W. Pickersgill Esq | &c &c &c