36 METEOROLOGICAL APPEARANCES. 



of the bright arch before adverted to, that had passed over early in 

 the evening." This does not seem noticed by other observers. 



Mr. W. L. Wharton, of Guisborough, makes the following 

 observations on the Aurora, as seen by him at 9 o'clock. " 9. O. 

 Brilliant radiations with prismatic colours, converging to Alpha 

 Andromeda, accompanied with sheets of light moving with vast 

 rapidity to the same part of the heavens ; summit of arch moved 

 considerably eastward. 9. 10. Continuous sheets of light and 

 radiations from the whole horizon between W. N. W. and E. N. E. 

 all converging to the same part of Andromeda, but upon reaching 

 that point apparently checked in their further progress, and (those 

 from the N. W. especially) twisted as it were for a short distance, 

 towards the S. E. and then dissipated in space." 



The most splendid aspect of this remarkable Aurora was at 10, 

 p. m., when it assumed a totally new and far more imposing 

 character. The white arc of light now appeared like the segment 

 of an immense globe of fire, beams of greater brilliancy shot up in 

 the west, waves of orange-coloured light seemed to spring from the 

 fiery mass in rapid succession, and from these sprung many short 

 beams of a paler colour, advancing towards the zenith with a con- 

 tinually accelerated motion. It might now have been well de- 

 scribed in the following lines of an observer of these phenomena : — 



" Mark you the light that beams in air. 



Amidst the troubled sky ! 

 That flashing now with sudden glare. 

 Sweeps to the zenith high ; 

 Dispersing round its fearful flame — 

 From yon illumin'd arch it came ! 



*' The fleecy clouds promiscuous roll 



Across the azure clear ; 



An awful feeling thrills the soul, — * 



Some mighty Spirit here. 



Commands ethereal flames to rise, 



And dart successive o'er the skies." 



This remarkable Aurora was noticed by Mr. Fielding, at Hull ; 

 Professor Sedgewick, at Sedbergh j Mr. Phillips, at York ; Professor 

 Airy, at Cambridge j the Hon. Charles Harris, at Chris tchurch, 

 Hants; the Rev. Dr. Robinson, at Armagh, Ireland; and by myself 

 and others, at Worcester. The statements of observers, however, 

 vary as to its effects upon the dipping needle. Its height from the 

 earth is said to have been very great ; but on this point a singular 

 discrepancy prevails, and it is by no means settled by philosophers 

 at what elevation from the earth the Aurora has its origin. Some 

 observers have commenced with the very moderate calculation of 

 100 miles, which Dr. Dalton assigns to the Aurora of \8W ; Sir 

 Richard Phillips leaps to 500 miles, which he considers its mean 

 distance ; Mairan strains it to 600 at least, and another calculator 

 advances to 825 miles 5 while Euler, determined not to strain at a 



