1823.] Capt, Franklin* s Narrative of a Journey y S^c, 69 



and at 8^ a. m., May 3d, the needle and conductor were In con- 

 tact. I moved the needle 40' from the conductor, and it was 

 similarly affected at some period on the nights of May 3d, 5th, 

 6th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. The thermometer, during this period, 

 ranged in the day between -f 26° and + 56° ; and in the night, 

 between + 10° and + 33°. I did not see the Aurora, except 

 on the nights specified above ; and did not perceive any altera- 

 tion in the needle till the succeeding mornings." 



" The night of the 12th furnished a more satisfactory proof 

 of the agency of the Aurora. At 10'^ p.m. the needle was not 

 affected, and no Aurora was visible. At 0'^ 30' a. m. May the 

 13th, several arches appeared across the sky from NW to 

 SE, and the needle was attracted to the conductor from the 

 distance of 1°. The temperature of the air was + 12°. I now 

 determined to convert the instrument into a kind of electro- 

 meter, by insulating the needle and conductor. The pivot 

 which supported the former was fixed upon sealing wax, and 

 the point of the latter, which passed through the lid, was co- 

 vered with the same substance." 



" Paper was pasted on the box as before, and it was re-placed 

 at 2'' p. m. on the 14th, the temperature of the air being 54°. 

 A heavy gale of wind from NNW, with snow, immediately 

 followed, and the temperature of the air, at midnight, was re- 

 duced to 19°. At 9^' a.m. May 15th, the needle was removed 

 30° from the conductor, and both were still charged, so that I 

 could not bring them together till the conductor was acci- 

 dentally touched. I believe this change to have been received 

 from an Aurora ; because the same weather, preceding and fol- 

 lowing it, did not affect the needle in the day, when the in- 

 creased warmth of the air was more favourable to the produc- 

 tion of electricity in other quarters, and also to its passage. 

 On the 24th of May, between 10'' and 12'^ p.m. the needle was 

 attracted to the conductor, and repelled 25°.* The next morn- 

 ing, Mr. Franklin found the needle of the transit instrument 

 (which was then in the meridian) affected 20'. The brightness 

 of the twilight prevented us from seeing the Aurora, and I 

 therefore discontinued my observations." 



" That electricity was the cause Of the motions which I have 

 described does not admit of a doubt. But whether the elec- 

 tricity was received from, or summoned into action by, the 

 Aurora, my readers will determine for themselves, being in pos- 

 session of the facts upon which I have myself founded my 

 opinion." P. 586, 587. 



Dr. Richardson is of opinion, that, independently of all theory, 

 his notes *' will at least serve to prove that the Aurora is occa- 

 sionally seated in a region of the air, below a species of cloud 

 which is known to possess no great altitude. I allude to 



* " Jhe thermometer was then 2(P, ^d at 3^ p. m. it had been 58°." 



