106 RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 



About three a. m. on the 12th, the Aurora was reported by the officer of the watch as very brilliant. 

 But as I was comfortably in bed, and it was beyond my examination, and would vanish before I 

 could possibly be in a proper state to receive such a delicate visitor, I directed Messrs. May and 

 Cheyne to pay every attention. It was Mr. May's guard at the magnetometer, and Mr. Cheyne 

 was excused watch solely to attend to the electrometers, &c. It was asserted that the electric 

 fluid was noticed on the wires fairly caught; certes Mr. Cheyne found no disturbance. I am 

 not quite sure that he had his instruments placed in connection with his wires, or that he reached 

 in time, possibly thinking as I did. (?) Mr. May repaired to the Observatory, and, unfortu- 

 nately, my later orders were not then in force, or we should have had a full history of this 

 visitation. The magnetometer exhibited the most unmistakable signs of disturbance, moving 

 instantaneously from 114° to 128°, and up to 150°, returning at four a. m. to 111.90. 



This, then, I consider as strong proof; and, taking into consideration other very decided deflections 

 when no cause was apparent, I am induced to believe that the affection precedes or follows what 

 may be indistinct, or not at all noticed by simple atmospheric observers, and nothing short of 

 very close watching at the magnetometer will indicate the truth. But it must be borne in mind 

 that this extra duty is a delicate service, and, to maintain even moderate interest, I know full 

 well that the greatest tact is necessary to keep up the importance of the operators. No 'soft 

 sawder' will do here; it is only by making the observer feel his importance, and in this aspect 

 his responsibility to the civilized world, that he can be persuaded to extend his labors. Science 

 will never be driven. 



This Aurora was reported 'to have been duly captured, but broke the wires;' and as we could not 

 find any of her (she has become a female) on the wires, and I could obtain no direct testimony 

 (but the reverse) that Mr. Cheyne's electrometers were not influenced, the question remained in 

 nubibiis." — Ibid., p. 178. 



At Sea.— Lat. 77° 55' N. Long. 0° 55' W. May 20, 1818. Scoresby. 



"The nights being light, the Aurora Borealis could not be seen; but on the evening of the 20th 

 of May, an appearance was observed very much resembling the Aurora Borealis, yet no signs 

 of electricity were observed in the electrometer applied to the conductor." — 1 Scoresby, 383. 



Van Rensselaer Harbor (N. E. of Smith's Sound).— Lat. 78° 45' N. Long. 71° W. Kane. 



November 13, 1853. 



" Three a. m. Nebulous patch to the south by east, closing in S. S. W. with slight illumination. 



November 26, 1853. 



Nine p. m. Bright belt crossing the zenith from north to south ; wavy in outline, but destitute of 

 color or scintillation. 



November 28, 1853. 



One a. m. Bright auroral light to the southward (S. 14° W.). 



Four a. m. Same; west 21° south to south, quite fixed; a nebulous patch of illuminated sky; 

 elevation never exceeding 30°. 



November 30, 1853. 



Five hours thirty minutes p. m. Aurora of same character but very faint, nearly due east; faded 

 by 7 p. m. 



December 1, 1853. 



Eight p. m. Two horizontal belts to S. W. 



