68 Observations of the Aurora Borealis, 1850-51. 



and much-disputed observations of the same nature which are 

 on record. That gentleman writes, — " During a voyage in the 

 beginning of the past winter, I saw the most beautiful display of 

 am-ora borealis that I believe I ever witnessed. On the 2nd of 

 December 1850, I encamped on the banks of a moderate-sized 

 river near the chain of the Rocky IVIountains running westward 

 of Peel's River, the opposite banks rising precipitously several 

 hundred feet until they joined the mountains beyond. Having 

 no time-piece with me, I cannot speak positively as to time ; but 

 it would have been probably between 10 and 11 p.m., with a 

 fresh breeze blowing from N.E. and veiy cold. The phseno- 

 menon ivas evidently very near the earth, for it appeared between 

 me and the trees on the opposite side of the river, which could not 

 have been 40 feet above the level of the stream ; the trees toward 

 the top of the hill being high above it. Large compact masses 

 were moving from E. to W., and bright streamers passing in the 

 same direction in quick and \-ivid flashes ; then returning to the 

 zenith, would from thence spread out to the N. and S. in beau- 

 tiful waves or clouds, and sheets of light of the most beautiful 

 coloiu's, uiatil they disappeai-ed altogether and left the sky en- 

 tirely clear. Every time the streamers passed over me from E. 

 to W. they were accompanied by a rustling noise, such as would 

 proceed from the gentle waving of a silk flag ; but in returning 

 from W. to E. I am not conscious of having heard any sound 

 proceed from them." [The Italics are the writer's.] It is a con- 

 firmation of the veiy remarkable proximity of this display to the 

 observer, that the following are the only other observations on 

 the same evening, although it was clear at four or five stations : — 



" Fort Conf deuce. — A veiy faint baud of aurora near horizon 

 in the N. at 5 p.m. ; at 7*^ 30"^ it formed a pale arch across the 

 zenith from N.N.W.toS.S.E. ; at 8^ SO™ it exhibited a broad arch 

 from N. by W. to S.S.E., altitude towards S.W. about 9° at 

 vertex (true bearings) . Moose Factory, at 8^ 40™, a famt axiroral 

 light in N. ; 9** 20"" brighter, but partly obscured by clouds ; lO'* 

 still visible, never higher than 30°." 



Mr. Bernard Ross remarks of a splendid display on the 1st of 

 Febi-uaiy 1850, that "although very near the earth, no sound 

 was audible," but does not mention on what grounds he supposed 

 it to be so near. 



I shall look with much interest for the observations made in 

 the past winter, which in Canada has been remarkable for the 

 number of splendid displays of aurora, and the repeated occur- 

 rence of some of the rarest phsenomena connected with it, such 

 as the formation of arches of dark vapour, of which Mr. C. 

 Campbell has given one instance. 



Magnetical Observator)', 

 Toronto, April 13, 1852. 



