of the 1th of January, 1831. 263 



It very quickly spread in this direction towards the south, and 

 was soon joined by a similar band of light proceeding from 

 (he west, the whole now forming a strongly-marked arch, about 

 5 in breadth, pretty well defined on the upper side, but not 

 so well on the lower. The highest point of the arch passed 

 over the planet Mars, about 45 above the horizon. Towards 

 the west the arch was lost in what appeared to be the London 

 smoke, about 10 above the horizon ; and towards the east, 

 about the same portion was lost in haze ; or rather it appeared 

 to proceed from the smoky fog at this height on the west, and 

 the haze on the east. The whole had the white appearance 

 of a thin cloud illuminated by the moon. The brightest parts 

 were to the S.E. and S.W. This arch faded gradually away, 

 but was visible for nearly a quarter of an hour. Before it had 

 disappeared, I observed a strong light in the N.E. (at this 

 time I was about three-quarters of a mile S.E. from the 

 observatory) of a brilliant rose colour. This increased rapidly 

 in brilliancy, and sent coruscations up to the zenith. Very 

 shortly afterwards the whole of the northern horizon became 

 illuminated, and brilliant coruscations shot from every part 

 towards the zenith. Some of these were very thin and well 

 defined ; but were not much tinged with red, excepting towards 

 the N.E. and N.W. At the same time large detached masses 

 of light, resembling floating clouds, were seen on the southern 

 side from east to west ; and similar ones, though not so strongly 

 enlightened, appeared towards the north. These, towards the 

 north, after a short time, assumed the appearance of an irre- 

 gular inverted arch, the lowest point being, as near as I could 

 judge, in the magnetic north, and brilliant coruscations pro- 

 ceeded rapidly from every part, some being slightly tinged with 

 red. Shortly after six o'clock, when I arrived here, these 

 gradually diminished in brightness ; and at half past six> little 

 more could be observed than a general light diffused over the 

 northern side of the heavens. At 7h. 30m. I observed a 

 distinct arch of light towards the north, the centre of the arch 

 being very nearly in the magnetic north, and its highest point 

 about 25 or 30 above the horizon. The eastern and western 

 ends of this arch, like that which first appeared towards the 

 south, were not visible near to the horizon. 



