from The Climate of London, 1833

(page 136)

Extraordinary Meteor—On the first day of this period, about half-past 8 p.m. a very singular luminous meteor was seen to the NNW of Geneva, passing over France: the same appears also to have been seen from Paris. It had at first the shape of the letter S and was very slow in its apparent motion, being visible for seven or eight minutes, till concealed by a cloud: it was accompanied by a kind of whizzing noise. Professor Pictet, on comparing the different observations, concluded that it was elevated 24 1/2 leagues above the earth's surface. (See Nicholson's Journal, vol. xxx, p. 216.)