180 CAPTURE OF THE AURORA. [December. 



tact is necessary to keep up the importance of the ope- 

 rators. No " soft sawder" will do here : it is only by 

 making the observer feel his importance, and in this as- 

 pect his responsibility to the civilized world, that he can 

 be persuaded to extend his labours. Science will never 

 be driven. 



This aurora was reported " to have been duly captured, 

 but broke the wires;" and as we could not find any of 

 her (she has become a female) on the wires, and I could 

 obtain no direct testimony (but the reverse) that Mr. 

 Cheyne's electrometers were not influenced, the question 

 remained in nubibus. 



