386" Aurora Borealis, 



last, was seen here in December 1836, and tha'. display was accom-- 

 panied by a cloudy state of the sky, the Auroral light was then of 

 a deep violet (or blood colour) which gave rise to the popular 

 belief that it predicted the unfortunate outbreak of 1837. 



I did not then possess the means of ascertaining the Electrical 

 state of the Atmosphere, and the only Electric Telegraph then in 

 existence I believe on this Continent was in the laboratory of Pro- 

 fessor Henry of Princetovvn N. J., now the respected Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, so that the precise- 

 effects at that period could not be observed. 



In reference to the Aurora Borealis of the beginning of Sep- 

 tember (which may have been probably a continuation of the same 

 meteor as the 28th of August,) it was visible here on the- night 

 of the 2nd day, the 1st and 3rd being cloudy and rainy. The 

 captain of the Barque James W. Paige, at N. York, reports that 

 " from 8 P.M. to 3 A.M. of the 3rd of September the whole hori- 

 zon was as light as any sunshiny day, the peculiarity of it was- 

 that the sky was completely overcast with very black clouds and 

 at times it rained in torrents," but none of these appearances 

 were seen here on the night of the 3rd Sept. 



The Aurora Borealis of the 28th of August was seen generally 

 in Europe, in London England, it was first seen at 10*30 p.m., but 

 in more southern Latitudes it made its appearance soon after sun- 

 set ; it was followed by Earthquakes in England and in Italy. 



Mr. E, J. Lowe of the Beetson Observatory first observed it at 

 8'40 p.m., and his description in reference to appearances and the 

 cloudy state of the sky, coincides with the appearances observed 

 here ; and Mr. Burder of Clifton, England, calls attention to some 

 remarkable appearance of Solar Spots, Reports of its appearance 

 in Havanna and many other places on the American Contin- 

 ent South of us, have been received. 



Professor Henry of the Smithsonian Institution-is investigating 

 phenomena in reference thereto, and which may be looked forward 

 to with great expectations, possessing, as he does, such ample means 

 of collecting facts, and a perfect knowledge of the present state of 

 Electrical Science. 



It is much to be desired that the facts about to be collected 

 should establish the origin or source of this Meteor. There are 

 certain points which bear strongly upon the opinion of its electri- 

 cal origin. Its connection during these extraordinary displays, witb 

 Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions seems to be almost an esta- 

 blished fact. 



