about noon
Indeed , phenomena have there occurred of a nature so completely unexpected -- so entirely novel -- so utterly at variance with preconceived opinions -- as to leave no doubt on my mind that long ere this all Europe is in an uproar , all physics in a ferment , all reason and astronomy together by the ears . It appears that on the -- day of -- -LRB- I am not positive about the date -RRB- , a vast crowd of people , for purposes not specifically mentioned , were assembled in the great square of the Exchange in the well-conditioned city of Rotterdam . The day was warm -- unusually so for the season -- there was hardly a breath of air stirring ; and the multitude were in no bad humor at being now and then besprinkled with friendly showers of momentary duration , that fell from large white masses of cloud which chequered in a fitful manner the blue vault of the firmament . Nevertheless , about noon , a slight but remarkable agitation became apparent in the assembly : the clattering of ten thousand tongues succeeded ; and , in an instant afterward , ten thousand faces were upturned toward the heavens , ten thousand pipes descended simultaneously from the corners of ten thousand mouths , and a shout , which could be compared to nothing but the roaring of Niagara , resounded long , loudly , and furiously , through all the environs of Rotterdam . The origin of this hubbub soon became sufficiently evident . From behind the huge bulk of one of those sharply-defined masses of cloud already mentioned , was seen slowly to emerge into an open area of blue space , a queer , heterogeneous , but apparently solid substance , so oddly shaped , so whimsically put together , as not to be in any manner comprehended , and never to be sufficiently admired , by the host of sturdy burghers who stood open-mouthed below . What could it be ?