92 IViojraphical Sketch of Alexander Brongniart. 



the horizon at the points described, the features being of a whitish 

 colour, except the outer ones, which were crimson. 



The scene at this time was beautiful in the extreme, the dark arch 

 on the northern horizon contrasting strongly with the bright appear- 

 ance above it ; wliile to the south of the zenith the sky was perfectly 

 cloudless, the full moon (with her attendant Mars) shone brightly ; 

 and as she was at the time very nearly on the meridian, and only a 

 few degrees south of the point to which the auroral rays converged, 

 it seemed as if the rays of light emanated from the moon (but this 

 only owing to her peculiar position at the time); the planet Jupiter 

 shone brilliantly in the east, together with the stars of Orion, &c.; 

 and thus was formed one of the most delightful scenes, one indeed 

 that can never be forgotten by those wdio had the pleasui'o of wit- 

 nessing it. Tliis appearance continued with slight alteration till about 

 twelve o'clock, after which there continued a tinge of red on the north- 

 east and western horizon, with an occasional streamer from the 

 north, which continued when I left the scene at half-past twelve 

 o'clock. 



It may perhaps be worthy of notice that patches of crimson light 

 similar to those seen in the earlier part of the evening, wei'e seen 

 during an occulation of Mars some ten or twelve years since, and 

 that an occulation of Mars took place on the 24:th also. — I am, 

 yours, &c., 



G. A. ROWELL. 



OaoUr 28, 1847. 



Biographical Sketch of the celebrated ALEXANDER 

 Brongniart,* 



M. Brongniart was born at Paris in 1770. His father was 

 justly celebrated for his attainments in the fine arts. His 

 mine! developed itself in the midst of that brilliant society, 

 belonging to the end of the eighteenth century, which his 

 father was accustomed to draw around him. He then de- 

 rived from conversations with Franklin the germ of that mild 

 and practical philosophy Avhich he never abandoned ; from 

 those of Lavoisier, his earliest notions of chemistry, which 

 formed one of the foundations of his scientific career. He 

 gave early indications of that clearness of elocution which 



* At the funeral of M. Alexander Biongniait, which took place on Saturday 

 9th October, Sr. Elie de Beaumont gave tin t.dJress, from which the above is an 

 extract. 



