G. A. Rowell on the Aurora Borealis. 89 



Altitudes taken by such means as these, are but very little 

 to be depended upon, and there seems to be no pi'oof that the 

 observations were simultaneous ; as at "Whitehaven, it seems 

 to have been taken between 8'' 45'" and 9'' 8™, this being the 

 time the arch moved southward ; and at Wari'ington, the arch 

 was first seen at about nine o'clock, or between that and ten." 

 I therefore submit that, in this case, there is no sufficient 

 evidence that the aurora is at any great elevation, and that 

 t!ie discrepancies in the observations at Edinburgh, Jedburgh, 

 Hawick, &c., shew the local character of such phenomena ; 

 the little dependence which can be placed on observations of 

 such little appearances ; and the probability, that, as regards 

 such phenomena, no observers at a distance from each other, 

 can ever be certain that they see exactly the same appearance, 

 or an appearance in exactly the same place. 



In conclusion, I beg that I may not be thought presump- 

 tuous in making these remarks on a paper by this revered 

 and eminent philosopher ; and I believe that, were he living, 

 he would have been pleased with any observation, which, by 

 exciting fai'ther investigation, may tend in the least degree 

 to increase our knowledge on this interesting subject. 



G. A. ROWELL. 



December 4, 1847. 



On the Aurora Borealis. By G. A. RoWELL. 



Sir, — The aurora which appeared on the evening of Sunday last 

 (the 24th inst.), was, I believe, by far the grandest and most extra- 

 ordinary which has occurred for many years — if, indeed, it was ever 

 efjiiallud in these parts. I have seen accounts of its appearance in 

 several parts of England, i.e., London, Brighton, Cambridge, iSjc, 

 but they all fail in conveying anything like an idea of the magnifi- 

 cent display as seen at Oxford. I therefore beg to submit the fol- 

 lowing account, as I had the gratification of observing the phenomenon 

 with but slight intermission for upwards of six hours. I fear, how- 

 ever, that my description will fall short of conveying an adequate 

 idea of the grandeur of the scene. 



About a quarter past six o'clock I saw a faint tinge of red colour 

 overspreading the north-western horizon, and at the same time a 

 .'■light appearance of auroral steamers in the north. These appear- 



