METEOROLOGICAL APPEAHANCES. 37 



gnat, makes the elevation of the Aurora amount to some thousands 

 of miles ! The next theory may possibly lead us up to the moon, but 

 it certainly seems more advisable to keep a little nearer terra Jirma, 

 particularly as Dr. Richardson's observations in North America 

 seem to shew that the Aurora in reality has its origin near the re- 

 gion of the clouds, though often varying in its altitude. Still, 

 notwithstanding the attention that has been paid to the subject, and 

 the various hypotheses that have been imagined to explain the Au- 

 rora, there does seem a want of information on some points most 

 necessary as bases of induction. 



One thing seems certain, that this phenomenon is connected with 

 electricity,* and with changes of temperature, for extraordinary 

 mutations both in that and the weather followed the uncommon 

 exhibition of the Aurora I have been adverting to. The wind from 

 the north-west veered to south the next morning, and before 

 evening blew strong in gusts from the south-west, with heavy 

 showers of rain and occasional flashes of lightning, manifesting the 

 presence of electrical excitement. The south-west gales having 

 thus commenced, continued for an unprecedented length of time, 

 and vessels were detained in consequence to such an extent, that at 

 one period during the winter nearly 300 sail were detained at 

 Liverpool, vainly waiting for an easterly wind to waft them across 

 the Atlantic. 



Some telluric disturbances, according to the learned Mr. Clarke, 

 in an elaborate paper in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, 

 always accompany appearances in the atmosphere j and to this 

 cause he attributes the extraordinary meteors of 1833. " All point 

 out" he says " 1833 as a peculiar year, the result of that great 

 volcanic cause which has shaken the earth, the sea, and the air, and 

 rendered the last few months more memorable for earthquakes, 

 floods, meteors, and hurricanes, than any on record since 1348." 



The connection between the appearance of the Aurora Borealis 

 and gales from the south-west deserves especial notice, since a 

 naval captain of considerable experience has observed that by con- 

 stantly making for port after a brilliant display of the Aurora, he 



* An old work entitled " Time's Telescope" (for there is nothing new under the 

 sun) published in 1734, thus mentions the Aurora. — " Aurora Borealis, or Northern 

 Lights, vulgarly called Streamers, or Merry Dancers, because they mix and shuffle, 

 like a set of country dancers, or like the streamers of a great fleet on the main in a 

 windy day. Strange are the conjectures of the unlearned concerning this appear- 

 ance in the heavens : some imagine they see armies of men, horses and chariots 

 fighting in the air, which they take to be sure presages of war, &c." Indeed in 

 confirmation of this, Florence of Worcester, and Mathew of Westminster, in 

 describing portentous appearances in the air in the years 555, 567, 743, 776, &c. 

 which were no doubt Aurorse, designate them as " fiery spears seen in the air" — 

 *' appearances as it were of lances, &c." It has been thought, too, that a brilliant 

 Aurora was visible in Germany just before Julius Ctesar's death, for several authors 

 observe that a crackling noise is heard when the Aurora is very bright ; and Virgil, 

 in his 1st Georgick, in reference to this says — 



" Armorum sonitum toto Germania ecelo 

 Audiit." 

 The sound of arms in the air was heard throughout Germany. 



