Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 395 



north-east and north-west, but few coruscations were visible till 

 about ten P.M., when several columns of white light darted in quick 

 succession up to the zenith. Huge masses of white light, if I may so 

 term them, rose in the north-west, and, as it were, sailed majestically 

 along the horizon to the true north, and some as far as north-east, 

 and then shot up in massy columns. These appearances lasted till 

 half-past eleven, when the aurora began to diminish in brightness, 

 and in about two hours disappeared. Two bright meteors appeared 

 in the north. 



Dec. 13. The aurora again appeared light in strong twilight, but 

 no coruscations were visible. 



Dec. 14. At six P.M. the aurora was again visible, but fainter than 

 on the preceding evening. 



Jan. 7, 1831. An aurora borealis appeared in the north-east, 

 which had a reddish tinge, and had a similar effect to the rising moon 

 on a hazy evening. At a quarter past five a zone of white light rose 

 from the centre of the aurora, passed over the Pleiades just below Aries, 

 and to the west-south-west point of the horizon, forming a complete 

 arc. After remaining in a perfect state for about three minutes, the 

 centre of the bow began to disappear, and in a few seconds the whole 

 vanished. Several patches of white light were afterwards formed in 

 the south-east and south-west, which remained for some time. At 

 twenty minutes past five, perpendicular columns of red and white 

 light darted up to the zenith, and some even passed the zenith and 

 reached Orion, having an altitude of about 30 south. At half-past 

 five the northern hemisphere appeared to be covered with a complete 

 canopy of various coloured lights, which extended from north-east to 

 west, and exhibited one of the most magnificent appearances ever 

 witnessed in this latitude. Columns of light continued to emanate 

 till past midnight. The aurora did not finally disappear till about 

 four A.M. 



Jan. 8. An aurora was again visible for about two hours, but no 

 coruscations were visible. 



Jan. 1 1. Was a very cloudy evening, but having occasion to go 

 out about ten o'clock, the northern parts of the heavens appeared 

 unusually light -, the clouds dispersed, and an aurora presented itself 

 extending from north to north-west j two or three coruscations were 

 visible, but clouds again intervened, and at eleven the aurora could 

 no longer be seen. 



N.B. After the aurorae in November and December, we had strong 

 gales of wind from the south and south-west 5 but since the appearances 

 of the present year we have had a calm. 



Should these notices, copied from my journal, merit a place in 

 your Magazine, your insertion of them may cause naturalists in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country to make some useful remarks upon them. 

 I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, 



Your most obedient Servant, 



Bedford, W. H. WHJTE, H.M.C.S. 



January 12th, 1831. 



3 E 2 REV. 



