observed in North America on Nov. 17, 18. 93 



minutes after 1 o'clock, and fell apparently near to the earth, 

 exhibited a very white and dazzling light, and, as it exploded, 

 scattered shining fragments very much after the manner of a 

 sky rocket. 



As early as 7 o'clock the magnetic needle began to show 

 unusual agitation, and it has been since carefully observed 

 by Mr. Loomis. Near 11 o'clock, when the streamers 

 were rising and the corona forming, the disturbance of the 

 needle was very remarkable, causing a motion of 1° 5' in 

 five minutes' time. This disturbance continued until 10 

 o'clock this morning; the needle having traversed an entire 

 range of 1° 40', while its ordinary diurnal deflection is not 

 more than 4'. 



The thermometer at 1 1 o'clock was at 33° ; it shortly fell 

 to 31°, and remained nearly at this point during the rest 

 of the night — a degree of cold considerably below that of the 

 few preceding nights. The ground this morning was covered 

 with a copious white frost, indicating an unusual deposition of 

 watery vapour. 



At about 3 o'clock the sky grew cloudy, and, the moon ris- 

 ing shortly afterwards, further observations were prevented ; 

 but the continued disturbance of the magnetic needle would 

 induce the belief, that the aurora continued through the night, 

 and even to a late hour this morning. — O. [Believed to be 

 Professor Olmstead.~] 



Yale College^ Nov. 18. 



From the Boston Daily Paper. 



The sky presented a singularly beautiful appearance 

 on Tuesday evening, the 17th of Nov. Between 7 and 8 

 o'clock, the broken clouds were tinged with a beautiful red, 

 particularly at their edges, not unlike the appearance they 

 occasionally assume immediately after a brilliant sunsetting in 

 a summer's evening. At the same time the whole horizon 

 was lighted up, to a degree fully equal to the light of the un- 

 clouded full moon. This continued through the whole even- 

 ing. About 10 o'clock the light was more brilliant than 

 before ; the clouds were mostly gone, and the splendid corus- 

 cations of the aurora borealis extended entirely over the 

 heavens, from the north quite down the horizon in the south. 



Occasionally the light faded, and then again grew brighter, 

 and arranged itself in columns and pyramids ; some of which 

 were but momentary in their form and appearance, and others 

 were visible and unchanging for some minutes. > 



About 1 1 o'clock a mass of clear bright red light filled 

 a circle of 8° or 10° diameter a little to the south-east of the 



h 3 



