272 Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 
along the horizon around toward the west, a brightness began to 
appear in the northwest, which, in a very short time, extended 
itself upward forty five degrees, in a column of diffused light, 
quite broad at the base, and tapering to a point. his column 
moved very slowly southward, and at length became divided into 
two of similar character. But in the mean time, in all the north, 
and especially in the northwest, numerous streamers began to 
make their appearance. They became faintly red at the height 
of about 30°, and the redness of the whole blended itself into one 
general cloud, while the columns continued distinct and white 
below. The changes were rapid, as is usual; but the red tint 
covered the heavens nearly to the zenith for along time. No 
corona was formed. The moon, emerging from the clouds a little 
before eight, detracted from the brightness of the display, which 
was at no time very intense. The whole subsided, or nearly s0, 
shortly after eight, and observations were discontinued. 
But, at a few minutes before nine, the writer was summoned to 
witness a new exhibition of auroral magnificence, the glories of 
which no tongue can tell. The heavens were at this time wholly 
unclouded, with the exception of a single very small and faint 
cirrus high in the northwest. Innumerable bright arches shot 
up from the whole northern semicircle of the horizon, and from 
even farther south; all converging to the zenith with great ra- 
pidity. Their upper extremities were of the most brilliant scarlet, 
while below they were intensely white. At the formation of the 
corona, the appearance of the columns below, which were exceed- 
ingly numerous and brilliant, resembled what we may conceive 
would be that of bright cotton of long fibre, drawn out at full 
length. The comparison though humble, is more strikingly de- 
Scriptive than any other the observer could invent. ‘To attempt 
in language, a picture of the magnificence of the corona, would 
be utterly idle. It surpassed that of every other, that the writer 
has ever had an opportunity of obsefving. The intermingled hues 
afforded each other a mutual strong relief; and exhibited the 
most brilliant contrasts ever beheld. The stellar form was Won 
derfully perfect and regular. ‘Toward the west, there was a Se¢- 
tor of more than twenty degrees of unmingled scarlet, exceedingly 
t 
nagnificent. se 
3 The duration of this display was quite remarkable. For pot 
