Miscellanies. 393 



From this hour, until daybreak, seventeen others fell, all of which, 

 with a single exception, were small, many faint, and of the appear- 

 ance of " shooting stars" as they are generally termed, such as are 

 seen on any clear evening. The other was large and brilliant, re- 

 sembling the one first mentioned, but appeared at a greater height, 

 though accompanied by a beautiful train of sparks. These seventeen 

 seemed to fall towards the southeast and southwest. Three flashes 

 of lightning were distinctly visible at distant intervals of time, on the 

 very edge of the southern horizon. A stratum of faint clouds, like 

 mist, overhung that portion of the horizon, unlike the cloud which 

 always accompanies the aurora borealis. The rest of the sky was 

 clear and bright and the atmosphere delightfully serene. Although 

 in all, there were but eighteen meteoric bodies, yet the circumstances 

 and time seemed clearly to denote the mysterious return of that gor- 

 . geous shower which attracted such universal attention. 



You will observe that the space of time was from half past four 

 o'clock to daybreak, about two hours. Perhaps the phenomenon I 

 had the pleasure of witnessing was only the conclusion of a greater 

 display. With sentiments of respect, yours, &c. 



John Lewis Russel. 



14. Auroral Appearance.* — A a quarter past nine o'clock on 

 Sunday night the eighth day of May, in the present year, my attention 

 whilst regarding the heavens was forcibly attracted to the sudden 

 appearance due east of a shining broad column of light. 



At first, as my window overlooks the bay of Toronto and the low 

 island which separates it from the lake, I took this singular pillar of 

 light for the reflection from some steamboat on the clouds, but hav- 

 ing sought the open air on the gallery which commands a full view 

 of the bay and of Ontario, I was convinced that the meteor was an 



* Toronto, Upper Canada, Dec. 3cl, 1836. 

 To Professor Silliman. — As every thing relating to meteorology is of impor- 

 tance and should be recorded, I have sought amongst my papers, for some notices 

 of a singular appearance in the sky on Sunday evening the eighth of May, 1836, 

 which I had overlooked, but which I now think it right to communicate to your 

 valuable Journal, wherein I perceive the subject of auroral phenomena has latterly 

 been much discussed. I have been led to seek more after opportunities of wit- 

 nessing and recording these appearances in the heavens, from having read the 

 " Observations on solar and lunar columns, halos, the aurora and auroral clouds," 

 by Professor Joslin, of Union College, State of New York, whom 1 beg to thank 

 for his politeness in sending me his work. Very sincerely, yours, 



R. H< BONNYCASTLE, 



Vol. XXXII.— No. 2. 50 



