Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 273 
nine o’clock, the corona continued, with variable brightness, to 
maintain its position a little to the south of the zenith. At about 
half past nine, the northern columns had become disconnected 
from it, and had subsided very low, the heavens being clear be- 
tween. But long before this, and indeed, within a few minutes 
after nine, the south was as completely filled with corresponding 
columns as the north. F'or a time, therefore, we were over-arched 
by a perfect canopy of glory. The southern columns, which 
seemed to proceed downward from the corona, rested on an arch 
of diffused light, extending in a great circle from east to west, or 
nearly so, and being about twenty degrees, or a little more, above 
the horizon, in the centre. All below the arch was of the strange 
darkness so usual at such times in the north. The southern col- 
umns were at no time so bright as the northern, but they main- 
tained their position, after these last had retired; extending still 
from the corona to the arch which formed their base. The ap- 
pearance was at this time that of an Aurora Australis ; and this 
continued for more than a quarter of an hour. Streamers, for a 
while, continued to shoot upirregularly in the north, but they did 
not again reach the zenith. By half past ten, the whole was 
over, and the charmed observers reluctantly abandoned the watch. 
The numerous observations of Mr. Herrick, have demonstrated 
the probability, if not the certainty of a return, after midnight, of 
an Aurora occurring before. Although, therefore, three distinct 
and strongly marked fits of the phenomenon had already occurred 
on the evening of which we are speaking, the writer was curious 
to ascertain whether there was not another yet to come. Accor- 
dingly a watch was kept, and at about half past one, the north 
was observed to be illuminated with a strong diffused light, like 
the dawn, from which occasional streamers shot up faintly, so 
high as forty degrees. Before half past two these appearances 
gave place to a flickering light, which ascended in broad waves 
half way to the zenith. At a quarter before three, this began to 
subside, and observations were discontinued. 
The presence of the moon detracted, undoubtedly, very much 
from the splendor of these successive exhibitions of celestial mag- 
nificence. But for this circumstance, it is believed that the dis- 
play at nine o’clock would have been gorgeous, beyond any yet 
recorded by observers in this latitude. Indeed, the writer is dis- 
posed to believe that it was such, notwithstanding this disadvan- 
Vou. XXXIV.—No. 2. 35 
