128 MR BAIRD ON THE AURORA BORBALIS. 



early in the morning upon their usual avocations. They were caught 

 in the storm while out in deep water, and were obliged to take refuge 

 from the gale by attempting to run for Eyemouth and Burnmouth har- 

 bours. Several of them reached the desired havens in safety ; but one 

 poor boat, less lucky than the rest, and manned by a gallant crew of six 

 men, some of them the flower of their village, while struggling with the 

 tempest, was hidden by a mighty wave from the eyes of their comrades, 

 and swallowed up by the roaring ocean. The Aurora of Tues- 

 day night, it appears, was observed simultaneously at great distances 

 from Berwick. At Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Banff, it was seen very vivid, 

 and the storm which succeeded its display, it also appears, has raged all 

 along the north-east coast of Scotland. Every succeeding day brought 

 in from the more distant quarters of the country tidings of still more 

 fatal disasters. At Peterhead, St Comb's, Gardenston, Collin 'Bay, 

 Johnshaven, Banff, and other places on the coast, fishing-boats, all in- 

 tent upon their perilous avocations, were caught in the storm, which, 

 veering round from south-west to north-west, took them at unawares, 

 and, in too many instances, at all the places I have mentioned, produced 

 the most fatal results. Many were but too surely swallowed up by the 

 raging sea, while others have been amissing, some of which, it is feared, 

 have shared the same melancholy fate. Coasting-vessels all along the 

 north-east shore have experienced shipwreck, and the most fearful de- 

 vastation has taken place. Nor did its fury make itself be felt at sea 

 alone on the dry land houses were unroofed, trees blown down, and 

 tiles and slates driven about by the force of the gale, like chaff or fea- 

 thers. At Berwick the gale abated about two or three o'clock in the 

 afternoon, decreasing to a moderate breeze, whilst, in the evening, 

 the most splendid display of Aurora took place that I had ever on any 

 occasion witnessed. It seems to have commenced at half-past seven 

 p. M., and to have attained its greatest brightness about eight. At this 

 hour the scene presented by their appearance was magnificent beyond 

 description. An immense concourse of beautiful pencils of light, vary- 

 ing in intensity from the most vivid brightness to a mild effulgence, shot 

 up from the east, north and west, now flickering, then blazing, shorten- 

 ing, and lengthening themselves alternately, till they reached the zenith, 

 and there converging together in a flood of light. The beautiful ap- 

 pearance thus presented, was said by one poetic, imaginative spectator, 

 to resemble an angel's wing but it would require a pen snatched from 

 the plumes of that angel's wing itself, to describe with justice the amaz- 

 ingly magnificent scene that then was unfolded to our wondering and 

 admiring eyes. This truly astonishing display continued visible for 

 some time then changed its appearance, and during the rest of the 

 evening assumed at intervals almost every possible variety of configura- 

 tion. At one time the whole sky, even far to the southward, was co- 

 vered with bright, white, cloudy-like thin masses, in constant motion 



