272 THE LANGUAGE OP PASSIOV- 



circulation was from .the north to the south pole, which, however, is in- 

 consistent with the direction qf the Aurora Australis. 



Again, it has been supposed that, by thunder showers, in tropical and 

 temperate regions, much of the natural electricity of the air is withdrawn, 

 and that the deficiency thus created is supplied by the passage, through 

 the rarer portions of the atmosphere, of the comparatively redundant 

 electricity of the poles. This explanation accommodates itself, at least, 

 to appearances. But it is now very well established that the free elec- 

 tricity of the clouds, is nothing more than that which was held in an 

 insulated or latent state in the vapor before condensation, and which it 

 carried up wilh it from the earth during evaporation. And further it is 

 by no means certain that there is, as a general matter, a deficiency of 

 electricity in the equatorial atmosphere. According to this view, how- 

 ever, there must be a determination of the electric matter from the equa- 

 tor towards the poles through the mass of the earth, and a reverse course 

 through the upper air. The fact of such circulation is more than pro- 

 bable, but the cause here assigned is not likely the true one. But a 

 cause adequate to the production of such a circulation, and in accord- 

 ance wilh well established facts has been suggested by Faraday. He 

 has shown that the unequal exposure of the earth's surface to the solar 

 heat, by its diurnal revolution, must produce free electricity, and that 

 this must press towards the poles, whence there. mus{ be a tendency fiir 

 it to pass off. This tendency, perhaps always nearly constant, being 

 favored by certain conditions of the atmosphere, would, under such cir- 

 cumstances, give rise to the gorgeous displays of the aurora, which have 

 excited so much curiosity and interest ; and, under unfavorable cir- 

 cumstances, produce a circulation so feeble as not to be appreciable 

 either by the visible appearances of the heavens or the magnetic needle. 

 A favorable condition of the atmosphere may be found in the existence 

 of more than an ordinary share of moisture in the regions above those 

 of the ordinary clouds; and the light, as seen by us, may be that of 

 highly electrified vapor moving under the influence of electric forces. 



THE LANGUAGE OF PASSION. 



The first and brightest names, that have been engraven on the ada- 

 mantine pillar of Fame, to which men point with mingled pride and 

 gratitude, were of those, who, 



•'With a master's hand and prophet's fire 



Struck the deep sorrows of theii lyre." 



Manlvind were thrilled by the passing witchery of this divine art long 



