38 METEOROLOGICAL APPEARANCES. 



has escaped danger, when his less fortunate compeers have been 

 wrecked.* So that in this respect, science may probably contribute 

 in future to the safety of the seaman, by directing his attention 

 more particularly to this phenomenon, with a view to precautionary 

 measures j and thus humanity may be taught to hail the Aurora 

 as the friendly beacon designed by Providence to be a precursor of 

 the gale, and thus act, not as the vulgar believe, as the companion 

 of superstition, but as the hallowed guardian of human life. 



These are the uses of researches into science and natural histo- 

 ry J — while the idle observer gazes with alarm on phenomena like 

 these, the true philosopher, ever on the alert to detect the workings 

 of nature, finds that the most secret operations in her laboratory 

 have an object of utility in view, demonstrating the consummate 

 wisdom of an Almighty Governor. 



* *'I believe the observation is new, that the Aurora Borealis is constantly- 

 succeeded by hard southerly, or south-west winds, attended with hazy weather and 

 small rain. I think I am warranted from experience to say constantly , for, in 

 twenty-three instances that have occurred since I first made the observation, it has 

 invariably obtained." — " The benefit which this observation on the Aurora Borealis 

 may be of to seamen is obvious, in navigating near coasts which extend east and west, 

 particularly in the British Channel. They may, when warned by the Aurora, get 

 into port, and evade the impending storm ; or, by stretching over to the southward, 

 facilitate their passage by that very storm, which might otherwise have destroyed 

 ihem." Captain Winn, in Rennie's Field Naturalist Magazine, March, 1833. 



It is probable, however, that sailors have in reality taken advantage of the presage 

 afforded by these appearances, long prior to this intimation of Captain Winn's, for 

 I remember on the morning after the luminous arch of Sep. 29, 1828, hearing a 

 bargeman on the Severn remark to a comrade, that " the sky-rocket," as he termed 

 it, of the night before, would be sure to be followed by a gale of wind. 



E. L 



To E * * *. 



'• Farewell ! thou dearest of all things 

 Beneath the bright and blessed sky ! " 



Chatelar's Adieu. (Hun. Mrs. Norton.) 



We meet no more ! thy latest tone 

 Hath died within my shrinking ear 1 



My brain is sear'd, my heart is lone. 

 It owneth neither hope nor fear : 



We meet no more ! 



We meet no more I Oh, drear decree 

 That shuts, for ever, from my view 



All that with love's pure fervency 

 Soft sunshine o'er my spirit threw ! 

 We meet no more ! 



We meet no more 1 ah, never more I 

 Vain, vain the joyless years may fly. 



Nought can the bury'd past restore. 

 Nought teach too faithful love to die ! 

 We meet no more I 



