MR BAIRD ON THE AURORA BORBALIB. 131 



destruction before it ; the older houses, and buildings which opposed its 

 course were swept away like gossamers 1 webs before the morning breeze, 

 and men, women and children, while warm in their beds, and fearing no 

 danger, were in a moment buried in the ruins of their frail tenements, 

 and hurried by the raging torrent along with the wreck of thein proper- 

 ty, into immediate destruction. Onward with its victims flowed the 

 fearful mass of water, and when it reached the newer and more strongly 

 built houses, it raged and roared at finding itself impeded in its head- 

 long fury, and rose in sheets of spray over the tallest buildings. It still, 

 however, notwithstanding these short checks, continued its path of de- 

 struction, and taking some of the streets in its course, plowed up the 

 pavement as if it were a bed of sand, and forcing its way into the lower 

 parts of the houses on each side, swept away their furniture, and com- 

 mitted the most dreadful destruction. Upwards of forty human lives 

 were lost in this fearful night, and some of the most extraordinary and 

 almost miraculous escapes took place that can well be conceived. It is 

 not the object of this paper to give the details of this sad calamity ; but 

 it will long be remembered in the neighbourhood of Greenock as one of 

 the most appalling events that has ever occurred there. 



2&/, The forenoon was fair, but cloudy. Nimbus formed, however, 

 at about 1 p. M., and it rained heavily all the rest of the day and evening* 



24 M, Was fine and mild all day. 



25th, Forenoon fair, but cloudy. Nimbus forming again about mid- 

 day, and considerable rain falling during afternoon and evening. 



26th, Forenoon fine and clear. Towards noon cirri began to form 

 aloft, in some places assuming the plumose figure. In afternoon they 

 descended in atmosphere, and gradually condensing became cirro-stra- 

 tus. In evening the wind rose to a fresh breeze, nimbus formed, spread 

 over sky, and heavy rain took place. 



It is unnecessary to continue the Journal farther. The storms and 

 floods which I have attempted to give some idea of in the above pages, 

 will, I think, when taken in connection with such exceedingly vivid diV 

 plays of the Aurora as I have attempted to describe, fully bear out the 

 opinion which has been so frequently adopted, of their intimate relation 

 with these bright, beautiful, and interesting phenomena. 



