Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 271 



trical currents. Mr. Faraday suggested, that such an escape 

 might possibly take place occasionally, thereby producing the 

 phenomena of the Aurora Borealis. Were this the case, there 

 would exist below the needle a flow of electricity northward, and 

 above it, southward. According to the laws of electro-magnet- 

 ism it should seem, therefore, that the disturbance observed should, 

 in every part of the northern hemisphere, take place invariably to- 

 wards the east. During the great aurora of July 1, 1837, the gen- 

 eral deflection, according to a statement inserted by Mr. Herrick 

 in the New Haven Herald, was observed to be in that direction. 

 The fact that it is not uniformly so, however, proves us to be 

 still in ignorance of some, at least, of the causes by which it is 

 produced. There yet exists a necessity for much careful obser- 

 vation. Observations too, on the variation of the intensity of 

 terrestrial magnetism, and on the disturbance of the dipping nee- 

 dle, during the existence of auroral action, are much to be desired. 



Observations made in other places. 



The aurora of Nov. 14, was observed in the city of New York 

 by the writer of this article, in company with Mr. John H. Pet- 

 tingell of that city. The position of the observers was three and 

 a half miles north of the City Hall, and one and a half beyond 

 the limits of the city proper ; being upon an eminence which 

 commands an unobstructed view of the horizon in every direction. 



At about a quarter before six, their attention was attracted by 

 a very unusual appearance of the heavens. The sky was wholly 

 overcast, as in New Haven, at the same hour ; but the cloud was 

 not sufiiciently dense, absolutely to obscure all the stars; of 

 which quite a nmnber were observed from time to time, faintly 

 glimmering through. A few light flakes of snow continued, also, 

 still to fall. At the time of the first observation, the whole heaven 

 was sufiused with a lovely carnation, brightest, apparently, at the 

 commencement in the zenith, but soon afterward rather toward 

 the northeast. This tint, reflected o% the snow, clothed all na- 

 ture with a roseate flush, beautiful beyond description. It grad- 

 ually faded ; but at the end of an hour was still slightly per- 

 ceptible. 



The sky then rapidly cleared, and all traces of the aurora passed 

 away. But at about half past seven, the north and east being 

 still overcast, and some stratified clouds extending themselves 



