MR BAIRD OX THE AUROEA EOREALIS. 



131 



destruction before it ; the older houses and buildings -which opposed 

 its course were swept away like gossamers' webs before the morning 

 breeze, and men, women, and children, while warm in their beds and 

 fearing no danger, were in a moment buried in the ruins of their frail 

 tenements, and hurried by the raging torrent along with the wreck of 

 their property, into immediate destruction. Onward with its victims 

 flowed the fearful mass of water, and when it reached the newer and 

 more strongly built houses, it raged and roared at finding itself im- 

 peded in its headlong fury, and rose in sheets of spray over the tallest 

 buildings. It still, however, notwithstanding these short checks, con- 

 tinued its path of destruction, and taking some of the streets in its 

 course, plowed up the pavement as if it wei-e a bed of sand, and forcing 

 its way into the lower parts of the houses on each side, swept away 

 their furnitiu-e, and committed the most dreadful destruction. Up- 

 wards of forty human lives were lost in this fearful night, and some of 

 the most extraordinary and almost miraculous escapes took place that 

 can well be conceived. It is not the object of this paper to give the 

 details of this sad calamity ; but it will long be remembered in the 

 neighbourhood of Grreenock as one of the most appalling events that 

 has ever occurred there. 



2'3d, The forenoon was fair, but cloudy. Nimbus formed, however, 

 at about 1 p. m., and it rained heavily all the rest of the day and 

 evening. 



24th, Was fine and mild all day. 



25th, Forenoon fair, but cloudy. Nimbus forming again about 

 mid -day, and considerable rain falling during afternoon and evening. 

 26th, Forenoon fine and clear. Towards noon cirri began to form 

 aloft, in some places assuming the plumose figure. In afternoon they 

 descended in atmosphere, and gradually condensing became cirro- 

 stratus. In evening the wind rose to a fresh breeze, nimbus formed, 

 spread over sk}-, and heavy rain took place. 



It is unnecessary to continue the Journal farther. The storms and 

 floods which I have attempted to give some idea of in the above pages, 

 will, I think, when taken in connection with such exceedingly vivid 

 displays of the Aurora as I have attempted to describe, fully bear out 

 the opinion which has been so frequently adopted, of their intimate 

 relation with these bright, beautiful, and interesting phenomena. 



