'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎33] (62/524)

BOMBAY GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
XXX111
Letter from the Deputy Principal Librarian of the British Museum to
the Right Honorable Sir Charles Wood, Bart., G.C.B., 31.P.,
dated 22,rd January 1863.
I have the honour to acquaint you, that a representation has been
submitted to the Trustees of the British Museum, showing that it
would be very desirable, with a view to increase and to render as com
plete as possible the fine collection of Aerolites now in the Museum,
that measures should be taken
On the Observation and Collection of 0 } 3 ^ a j n f or that Institution
A * * 1 # 4- *
Catalogue of the Collection of Aerolites such Aerolites as may in future
exhibited in the British Museum. come into the hands of, or he
procurable, by the public functionaries in the British dominions abroad,
and Her Majesty’s representatives in foreign countries. With this ob
ject, the papers, of which I have the honour to enclose copies, were
drawn up, and a large number of them has been forwarded to the
Foreign Office, by direction of the Trustees, to be transmitted to
the British Ambassadors, Ministers, Consuls, and other official persons
in foreign countries. A similar course is about to be taken with
regard to the colonies in general.
2. I am directed to state, that in no part of the world 01 ecpiai ex°
tent, have more important or more numerous instances occurred of the
fall of Aerolites than in the British possessions in India. The Trustees
would therefore request of His Excellency the Governor General, that
he will be pleased to take such steps as he shall think fit to secure for
the British Museum any Aerolites of importance that may be obtain
able in Her Majesty’s Dominions in India, and I am to ask the ravour
of your intervention, in causing an application to the aoove effect to be
forwarded to His Excellency.
c ®
On the Observation and Collection of Aerolites.
There are two varieties of Aerolites or Meteorites that have been seen
to fall from space. The one consists of stony masses, often containing
particles of iron ; and of these many have been observed in their fall:
the other variety is composed for the most part of iron. The actual
fall of iron aerolites has been but rarely witnessed, though many masses
of metallic iron have been found on the earth’s surface, of the meteoric
origin of which there can be no doubt.
7 P