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are laid on the table for the inspection of the 

 Members present, will convey abetter idea of whafc 

 took place than any description. 



At a meeting of the Meteorological Society held 

 on the 29 th of April, I ventured to state that the 

 magnetic storms which had occured here, had probably 

 embraced the whole globe and been accompanied by 

 auroras and interruptions in telegraphic communica. 

 tion. This, so far as I yet know, has been verified. 



On the 17th and 20th, great magnetic storms 

 occurred at Greenwich, Kew, Paris, Brussels, Toronto, 

 &c, at the same absolute times as at Mauritius ; but 

 at these places the oscillations were greater (th e 

 magnetic force being greater in high than in low 

 latitudes) and at times uhe traces went off the photo- 

 graphic sheets, and consequently were lost. 



In North America, auroras were seen from the 

 14th to the 21st inclusive. Very brilliant auroras were 

 observed in New Zealand on the evenings of the 17th, 

 and 20th. At one time on the 17th, •' the whole 

 southern heavens presented the appearance of being 

 illumined by the reflection of a vast conflagration.' 

 On the 20th, the sky being clearer than on the 17th, 

 " the streets were crowded during the evening with 

 spectators of the display." 



In England, the magnetic storms interfered 

 considerably with telegraphic communication, espe- 

 cially on the 17th. The perturbations on the French 

 lines were so frequent from the 16th to the 21st that 



