1823.] Capt. Franklin*s Narrative of a Journey, §c. 389 



generally the effect of these phenomena upon the needle was not 

 visible immediately, but in about half an hour or an hour, the 

 needle had attained its maximum of deviation. From this, its 

 return to its former position was very gradual, seldom regaining 

 it before the following morning, and frequently not until the 

 afternoon, unless it was expedited by another arch of the Aurora 

 operating in a direction different from the former one." 



" The bearings of the terminations of the arches are to be 

 taken with considerable allowance. They were estimated by 

 the position of the Aurora, with respe,ct to the sides of the 

 house, the angles of which had been previously determined. The 

 bearings given in the whole of my observations refer to the mag- 

 netic meridian, and are reckoned from the magnetic north, 

 towards the east round the whole circle, which, it is conceived, 

 will afford a means of more readily computing the horizontal 

 extent of the arches." 



" It is to be noticed, that the bearings given by Dr. Richard- 

 son and Lieut. Hood are true, and not magnetic." 



" On the Aurora Boreal is, Cumberland House. Extracted 

 from the Journal of Lieut. Robert Hood, RN. — The most mate- 

 rial information we had obtained at this period regarded the 

 height of the Aurora from the earth. The following is the 

 result of the observations that were made at the Basquiau Hill, 

 and at the same time by Dr. Richardson at Cumberland House. 

 The instruments used for the purpose were two small wooden 

 quadrants, revolving on pivots, and furnished with plummets. 

 Our chronometers were previously regulated, though great accu- 

 racy was not necessary in this particular, as the arches of the 

 Aurora are sometimes stationary for many minutes. On the 2d 

 of April, the altitude of a brilliant beam was 10° 0' 0", at 

 lO 1 " l m s , p.m. at Cumberland House. Fifty-five miles SSW 

 it was not visible. As the trees at the latter station rose about 

 5° above the horizon, it may be estimated that the beam was 

 not more than seven miles from the earth, and twenty-seven 

 from Cumberland House. On the Gth of April, the Aurora was, 

 for some hours, in the zenith at that place, forming a confused 

 mass of flashes and beams; and in lat. 53° 22' 48" N, long. 

 103° Y 17" W, it appealed in the form of an arch, stationary 

 about 9° high, and bearing N by E. It was, therefore, seven 

 miles from the earth. On the 7th of April, the Aurora was again 

 in the zenith before 10, p.m. at Cumberland House, and in lat. 

 53° 36' 40" N, and long. 102° 31' 41"; the altitude of the 

 highest of two concentric arches at9 1>s p. m. was 9°; at9 1,s 30 m , 

 it was 11° 30'; and at 10" s m s , p.m. 15° 0' 0", its centre 

 always bearing N by E. During this time, it was between six 

 and seven miles from the earth. After 10" s , p. m. it covered the 

 sky at Cumberland House, and passed the zenith at the other 

 place." 



" These observations are opposed to the general opinion of 



