91 



Ordinary Meeting, February 6th, 1872. 



E. W. BiNNEY, F.RS., F.G.S, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Sidney Jewsbury was elected an ordinary Member of 

 the Society. 



Dr. Joule, F.RS., called attention to the very extra- 

 ordinary inagnetic disturbances on the afternoon of the 

 4th instant, and from which he anticipated the aurora which 

 afterwards took place. The horizontally suspended needle 

 was pretty steady in the forenoon of that day, but about 

 4 p.m. the north end was deflected strongly to the east of 

 the magnetic meridian, and afterwards still more strongly 

 to the west. The following were the observations he had 

 made : — 



Deflection from the Deflection from the 



Magnetic Meridian. Magnetic Meridian. 



Time. o / Time. . , 



4-0 p.m 50 E. 6-10 p.m 1 24 W. 



4-30 „ 47 W. 6-12 „ 1 8 



4-55 „ 2 22 „ 7-41 „ 10 



4-58 „ 3 „ 7-43 „ 



5-9 „ 3 45 „ 8-9 „ 42 



5-12 „ 52" „ 8-31 „ 10 



5-23 „ 5 36 „ 8-54 „ 1 18 



5-24 „ 2 28 „ 8-58 „ 52 



5-35 „ 52 „ 11-3 „ 5 



5-55 „ 52 „ 



Mr. Sidebotham states that he also expected the mag- 

 nificent aurora on account of the violent disturbance of the 

 needle at Bowdon, amounting to at least 3°. Observation 

 with the spectroscope by Dr. Joule showed a bright and 

 almost colourless line near the yellow part of the spectrum. 

 This line appeared to whatever part of the heavens the 

 instrument was directed, and could be plainly seen when 



Peoceedings— Lit. & Phil. Soc— Yol. XI.— JS'o. 9.— Session 1871-2. 



