406 Description of the Aurora Borealis 



1. Now, with respect to the first and second of the sentences 

 here transcribed, there seems reason to doubt the accuracy 

 of the account which almost hmits the appearances of the 

 Aurora to the " winter time," to " frosty weather," and espe- 

 cially to the winter " solstice." The frequency with which the 

 season approaching to Christmas, or that of the winter solstice, 

 is distinguished by the occurrence of weather peculiarly mild, 

 insomuch that, almost every year, the period is marked by 

 observations upon what is annually called the extraordinary 

 and unseasonable genialness of the weather, cowslips blooming, 

 leaves budding, and birds building their nests ; this frequency 

 of a mild temperature of the air about the period of the winter 

 solstice, may justify, even under a general view, a doubt of the 

 accuracy with which, as things of course, the winter solstice, 

 and frosty weather, are spoken of as arriving in conjunction. 

 But, that the appearance of the Aurora Borealis is not peculiar, 

 either to the occurrence of frosty weather, or to the period of 

 the winter solstice, whether the two latter phenomena are 

 related or otherwise, seems probable, as well from the mildness 

 of the weather at the late appearance, as from the various 

 seasons of the year in which the few others described in our 

 books are recorded to have presented themselves. The earliest 

 mentioned was seen in London in the year 1560, on the 

 30th day of January. The next was in 1 564, on the 7th of 

 October. The next, in 1574, on the 14th and 15th of November. 

 The two next, observed in Brabant, in 1575, on the 25th of 

 February, and 28th of September. The next, at Wurtemburg, 

 as we are assured by Meestlin, seven times, in the year 1580. 

 The next, in an extraordinary manner, in the months of April 

 and September, 1581 ; and in a less degree, at some other 

 places, in the same year. The next, observed all over France, 

 in 1621, on the 2nd of September. The next in 1707 and 

 1708, during which two years the Aurora was witnessed five 

 times. The next, in the month of March, in 1715-16. The 

 next, in 1737, on the 16th of December ; that seen in London 

 in 1791, of the month of which the writer is uninformed ; 

 another in 1803, or 1804, at the latter of September, or the 

 beginning of October ; and this, of 1827, on the 25th of Sep- 

 tember. Byt, from these statements, it is now seen, that, 



