to other Atmospheric Phenomena. 95 



and 1834 will show. From circumstances, I have been 

 unable to make scientific observations on these interesting 

 phenomena; but the statements I communicate are facts, and 

 facts, however simple and apparently of little value in them- 

 selves, often come to be useful. The object I have in view, 

 you will perceive, is to establish that the aurora may be relied 

 upon as a sure prognostic of the weather. From the observ- 

 ations which I now bring forward, as well as a multitude of 

 similar ones made prior to 1833, I have learned that an 

 aurora is always succeeded by moisture, and frequently by 

 storms, that are, in general, proportionate to the brightness, 

 extent, and length of duration of the luminous manifestations. 

 As scientific men have now set themselves seriously to in- 

 vestigate this subject, we may expect soon to know more 

 about the nature of these midnight splendours; and, con- 

 sequently, why they afford such true prognostications of the 

 coming weather. 



1833. 



Mar. 21. Resembling the dawn. Snow and rain next day. 



April 5. Luminous arch. Showers next day. 



11. Faint. Soft shower followed that night. 

 May 16. Vivid. Violent thunder storm on the 17th. 



17. Vivid. Showers on the 20th. 



June 4. Faint. Soft shower in the evening of the 5th. 



Aug. 6. Not vivid. Showers in the afternoon of the 7th. 



20. Bright, with shooting stars. Heavy rain on the 21st. 



Sept. 1. Vivid. Heavy rain in the evening of the 2d. 



9. Vivid, beautifully coloured. Heavy rain the whole night of 10th, 



12. Vivid. Heavy rain during the night of the 13th. 



17. Magnificent display, reaching south of the zenith. Heavy 



rain and thunder on the 18th. 



19 Vivid I Heavy rain during the night of the 20th. 



Oct. 6. Faint. Rain in the morning of the 8th. 



8. Several coruscations. Shower on the 10th. 



10. Bright. Showers and high wind on the 11th. 



1 1. Vivid. Storm at midnight, which continued till next morning. 



12. A very magnificent display, seen over nearly all Britain. 



Heavy rain on the 13th, lightning on the 14th, and very 

 stormy at night. 

 15. Vivid. Much rain during the night and next morning. 

 Nov. 2. Faint. Showers on the 3d. 



3. Faint, with fire-ball and shooting stars. Heavy shower the 

 same night, and rain on the night of the 4th. 



5. Faint. Rain, with high wind on the 6th. 



6. A few coruscations, rather vivid. Rain during the night ; 7th 



stormy. 



7. Faint, without streamers. Shower of snow in the evening of 



the 8th. 



8. Faint. Snow and sleet in the evening of the 9th. 



15. Faint. Rain that night, and showers next day. 



16. Faint, and shooting stars on the 17th. Dull on the 18th, 



drew to rain on the 20th, violent gale on the 21st. 



