 |
| Via Newspapers.com |
This account of a curious…meteorological phenomenon? appeared in the “Public Advertiser,” September 14, 1767:
Extract of a Letter from Edinburgh, Sept, 7. "From the North we have an Account of a very uncommon Phenomenon, which made its Appearance, a few Days ago in Perthshire, to the inconceivable Surprize of all who beheld it. It first was observed on the Water of Ifla, near Cupar Angus, where it was preceded by a thick dark Smoke, which soon dispelled, and discovered a large luminous Body, which at first Sight appeared like a House on fire, but which presently after took a Form something pyramidal, and rolled forwards with Impetuosity till it came to the Water of Erick, which empties itself into lfla, up which River it took its Direction, likewise with great Rapidity, and disappeared a little above Blairgowrie. The Effects were as extraordinary as the Appearance. In its Passage, it carried a large Cart many Yards over a Field of Grass, a Man riding along the high Road was carried from his Horse, and so stunned with the Fall, as to remain senseless a considerable Time.
It destroyed one half of a House, or rather carried it off, and left the other behind, as the Part carried off was a good many Yards from the other. It undermined and destroyed an Arch of the new Bridge Building at Blairgowrie, immediately after which it disappeared. As few Appearances of this kind ever were attended with like Consequences, various Conjectures have been formed concerning it.
The Country People call it foul Air but it is expected the Public will be yet favoured with a more particular Account, as several Gentlemen of Learning and Inquiry were Witnesses both to its Appearance and Effects."
I would like to read what the several Gentlemen of Learning and Inquiry said about this!
ReplyDeleteI ordered a copy of "The Tell-Tale Peacock"; imagine you writing a book with a Poe reference... Can you tell me the order in which the series' books were published? I'd prefer to start with the first. In any case, the "Peacock" is on its way...
ReplyDeleteThe first of the books was "The Fall of the Louse of Usher." It sets the stage for the characters, but the later books have a certain amount of exposition explaining the characters' history. And thank you very much! They're silly books, but I hope you like it.
Delete