404 Description of the Aurora Borealis 



of September but himself, and especially none of the outward 

 curve of the easternmost column, it is satisfactory to the 

 writer to have found an account of an appearance similar to 

 this last, in an Aurora of which he will presently have occa- 

 sion to speak. 



IX. Finally, there is an observation to be made upon that 

 part of the description, by the second correspondent of the 

 newspapers, where it is said, that during the appearance of the 

 coruscations in the zenith, ** the wind blew gently from the 

 south," and the spectator " frequently observed, that when it 

 freshened a little, the Aurora Borealis became more brilliant in 

 its appearance ;" to which it may also seem the writer's intention 

 to add, — " sending beautiful coruscations of light, in rapid suc- 

 cession toward the zenith, and frequently passing that point, 

 ten or fifteen degrees to the southward." Now the reality of 

 any dependence of the light and motion of the Aurora upon 

 the freshening of the breeze, would seem too strongly to affect 

 the question of the nature and action of the auroral matter, 

 to be admitted without cautious examination. In truth, what 

 was it that constituted the luminous matter which we saw in 

 the zenith ? The stars were visible through it. But for luminous 

 appearances that flew or skimmed along the heavens, we should 

 have said, that the latter were clear, and that there was nothing 

 but the purest atmosphere between the earth and the heavens. 

 Was it, then, the atmospherical matter which was thus illumi- 

 nated, and which, being ruffled by the breeze, can be supposed 

 to have really exhibited the appearances described by this 

 writer, or, was it not, rather, illuminated auroral mattery 

 which was shot through the atmosphere ; and, if this last, 

 how are we to understand that its brilliance, and still less the 

 frequency and vigour of its coruscations, could have been 

 affected by the freshening of the breeze ? 



X. But, taking, now, a final leave of the description of the 

 Aurora of the 25th of September, and of the observations 

 specially suggested by it, let us here examine the several par- 

 ticulars which are commonly offered as part, at least, of its 

 true history ; an undertaking, for the greater convenience of 

 which the account given in a modern work of much and 



