128 MR BAIRD ON THE AURORA BOREALIS. 



gone out early in tlie morning upon their usual avocations. They were 

 caught in tlic storm while out in deep water, and were obliged to take 

 refuge from the gale by attempting to run for Eyemouth and Burn- 

 mouth harbours. Several of them reached the desired havens in 

 safety ; but one poor boat, less luclcy than the rest, and manned by a 

 gallant crew of six men, some of them the flower of their village, while 

 struggling with the tempest, was hidden by a mighty wave from the 

 eyes of their comrades, and swallowed up by the roaring ocean. The 

 Aurora of Tuesday night, it appears, was observed simultaneously at 

 great distances from Berwick. At Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Banff, it was 

 seen very vivid, and the storm which succeeded its display, it also 

 appears, has raged all along the north-east coast of Scotland. Every 

 succeeding day brought in from the more distant quarters of the 

 country tidings of still more fatal disasters. At Peterhead, St Comb's, 

 Grardenston, Collin Bay, Johnshaven, Banff, and other places on the 

 coast, fishing-boats, all intent upon their perilous avocations, were 

 caught in the storm, which, veering round from south-west to north- 

 west, took them at unawares, and, in too many instances, at all the 

 places I have mentioned, produced the most fatal results. Many were 

 but too surely swallowed up by the raging sea, while others have been 

 amissing, some of which, it is feared, have shared the same melancholy 

 fate. Coasting-vessels all along the north-east shore have experienced 

 shipwreck, and the most fearful devastation has taken place. Nor did 

 its fury make itself be felt at sea alone — on the dry land houses were 

 unroofed, trees blown down, and tiles and slates driven about by the 

 force of the gale, like chalf or feathers At Berwick the gale abated 

 about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, decreasing to a moderate 

 breeze, whilst, in the evening, the most splendid display of Aurora 

 took place that I had ever on any occasion witnessed. It seems to 

 have commenced at half-past seven p. m., and to have attained its 

 greatest brightness about eight. At this hour the scene presented by 

 their appearance was magnificent beyond description. An immense 

 concourse of beautiful pencils of light, varying in intensity from the 

 most vivid brightness to a mild effulgence, shot up from the east, north 

 and west, now flickering, then blazing, shortening and lengthening 

 themselves alternate^, till they reached the zenith, and there converg- 

 ing together in a flood of light. The beautiful appearance thus 

 presented, was said by one poetic, imaginative spectator, to resemble 

 an angel's wing — but it would require a pen snatched from the plumes 

 of that angel's wing itself, to describe with justice the amazingly mag- 

 nificent scene that then was unfolded to our wonderii-g and admiring 

 eyes. This truly astonishing display continued visible for some time — 

 then changed its appearance, and during the rest of the evening 

 assumed at intervals almost every possible variety of configuration. 

 At one time the whole sky, even far to the southward, was covered 

 with bright, white, cloudy -like thin masses, in constant motion — now 



