OF THE AURORA BOREALIS. 19 



and came again to a period of maximum intensity about half past 2 o'clock. But 

 the display in this case was much inferior to that of the preceding evening. 



Numerous accounts of this grand aurora were published in the newspapers in 

 different parts of the Union, as at Buffalo and St. Louis on the west, and at Anna- 

 polis and Richmond on the south, and it was observed as far south as Society Hill, 

 in Soutb Carolina, lat. 34° 35' N. But at this place it only exhibited red streamers 

 and low arches, without the corona, or any otber of those magnrficent features 

 which rendered it so remarkable in countries further north. Its appearance at the 

 extreme south is thus noted in a letter from W. Darby, of Culloden, Georgia, lat. 

 32° 45' N., addressed to Professor Silliman : "Immediately after dark, or about G 

 o'clock, the sky, a little to the north of the star Capella, began to appear luminous, 

 and an arch was soon formed of about G or 8 degrees in breadth, and extending 

 over to the northwestern horizon, having the pole star at its highest point. The 

 color of the arch was light scarlet. It appeared to be a semicircle, having for its 

 base about 60° of the horizon. It was observed with wonder by many in this 

 region, and was such as no one had ever witnessed before." 



This aurora was seen in England, and was described in the Cambridge Chronicle 

 published in November, and also in Loudons Magazine of Natural History, for 

 December, 1837; but its splendors seem to have been greatly obscured by clouds. 

 "At half past 12 a patch of the most intense blood-red color was visible, free from 

 the interposition of clouds ; the whole of the sky had an awful appearance ; for the 

 tinge of red which pervaded the whole expanse assumed, in many points, from the 

 depth of color above, and the density of the clouds below, the dark copper tint 

 which is seen on the disk of the moon in a lunar eclipse." 



The year 1838 was less prolific of fine auroras than the preceding year had been, 

 and the whole number recorded in the Regents' Report, was 42. The most remark- 

 able occurred February 21st, August 22d, and, in continued succession, the 13th, 

 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of September. The following year, 1839, gave 58 auroras 

 in all, of which the most remarkable occurred January 10th and 14th, and September 

 3d. The aurora of September 3d, 1839, was, for its extent as well as its splendor, 

 one of the most extraordinary on record, and requires particular consideration. A 

 minute account of it, furnished by Mr. E. C. Herrick, is given in the thirty-eighth 

 volume of the American Journal of Science ; and various other descriptions may be 

 found in the Regents Report, and in the newspapers of Great Britain, as well as in 

 those of the United States. The appearances at New Haven were as follows : It 

 was first noticed about half an hour after sunset, and of course while the twilight 

 was quite strong. Previous to midnight, there were three or four seasons of maxi- 

 mum energy, during which a large portion of the heavens was covered with a 

 vast assemblage of streamers of various hues, in which crimson and silver-white 

 predominated. Several times in the course of the evening, the corona was distinctly 

 formed, and in all cases at or near the pole of the dipping needle. Before 9 h. 

 2G m., there was but little undulation; but about this time the waves began to show 

 themselves, and soon flashed up towards the zenith with great magnificence. Low 

 in the north appeared, at the same time, short dark columns rising across the 

 intensely luminous band wdiich lay there, and then almost instantly vanishing. 



