342 On Luminous appearances m the <dtmosphere. 
appeared to stream from their icp — fact was partic- 
ularly noticed by J. Deming, Esq. 0 Andover 
Such phenomena as these it is belived, have seldom 
been observed in this vicinity, probably this i is the first in- 
stance since the settlement of the country.* Butin other 
the world they have long been witnessed—though 
not very frequently. 
When Gsllippus went to Syracuse, he perceived a flame 
upon his spear, and during the night before the victory which 
Postbumius gained over the Sabines, the Roman javelins 
emitted _ like torches—Cesar informs us, that in the 
ruary, about the second watch of the night, 
there middaule arose a great cloud, followed by a dreadful 
storm of hail, and on the same night ne points of the darts 
of the 5th legion appeared to be o 
In 1713, Marquis de Maffei man le in time of a storm 
on a mountain a brilliant flame issuing from the ground, at- 
tended with a loud noise. 
In October 1805, on an evening after a considerable fall 
of rain, several gentlemen at the house of the Rev. Mr. 
Gross, Hartford Vt. noticed a bright light, resembling the 
Aurora Borealis, apparently perpendicular to White River, 
elevated a few degrees above the —— and from which, 
luminous streams shot toward the ze 
From these facts the inquiry a arises, how can au 
explanation be given of their production? Were analogical 
reasoning to be admitted, the most plausible inference would 
be that they were caused by electricity, It is a fact well 
known, that when electricity becomes accumulated, as on 
si prime conductor of an_ electric Aerial its tendency to 
same = takes place whenever electrici- 
ty becomes accumulated either on the earth or in the air.— 
electricity becomes accumulated in the upper regions 
during a shower or a storm, it is launched to the earth or 
other places which are pranaeia electrified. On the con- 
“3 We. esume “that Dr. Allen ae wok not seen an interesting collection of 
s that occurred on the same cmt and an account of Pk 
ve Sele to the American Academ oston, by Professor Farra 
Cambridge University.—See the Piceawe of the Academy.—Ed. 
