Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, 'Of the fireball seen on July 22 1750' from William Smith to Robert Austen

Reference number: L&P/2/79

Date: 13 December 1750

Description

Subject: Meteorology

Published in Philosophical Transactions, as 'A letter from Mr. Wm. Smith to Mr. Robert Austen, concerning a fire-ball, seen in the air July 22. 1750. communicated to the Royal Society by the Rev. Wm. Stukeley M.D. F. R. S. and Rector of St. George the Martyr, London'

Read 10 January 1751

Reference number
L&P/2/79
Earliest possible date
13 December 1750
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
3 pages
Format
Manuscript

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

Letter, 'Of the fireball seen on July 22 1750' from William Smith to Robert Austen, 13 December 1750, L&P/2/79, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_2_79/letter-of-the-fireball-seen-on-july-22-1750-from-william-smith-to-robert-austen, accessed on 26 January 2025

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_2_79/letter-of-the-fireball-seen-on-july-22-1750-from-william-smith-to-robert-austen

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/l-and-p_2_79/letter-of-the-fireball-seen-on-july-22-1750-from-william-smith-to-robert-austen" title="Letter, 'Of the fireball seen on July 22 1750' from William Smith to Robert Austen" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Publications

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Explore the collection

  • Letters and Papers

    Dates: 1741-1806

    'Letters and Papers' contains the scientific correspondence sent to the Royal Society through the 18th century, many of which were published in its journal.

    View collection