Aurora Borealis of November 14, 1837. 273 



nine o'clock, the corona continued, with variable brightness, to 

 maintain its position a little to the south of the zenith. At about 

 half past nine, the northern columns had become disconnected 

 from it, and had subsided very low, the heavens being clear be- 

 tween. But long before this, and indeed, within a few minutes 

 after nine, the south was as completely filled with corresponding 

 columns as the north. For a time, therefore, we were over-arched 

 by a perfect canopy of glory. The southern columns, which 

 seemed to proceed downward from the corona, rested on an arch 

 of diffused light, extending in a great circle from east to west, or 

 nearly so, and being about twenty degrees, or a little more, above 

 the horizon, in the centre. All below the arch was of the strange 

 darkness so usual at such times in the north. The southern col- 

 umns were at no time so bright as the northern, but they main- 

 tained their position, after these last had retired ; extending still 

 from the corona to the arch which formed their base. The ap- 

 pearance was at this time that of an Aurora Australis ; and this 

 continued for more than a quarter of an hour. Streamers, for a 

 while, continued to shoot up irregularly in the north, but they did 

 not again reach the zenith. By half past ten, the whole was 

 over, and the charmed observers reluctantly abandoned the watch. 



The numerous observations of Mr. Herrick, have demonstrated 

 the probability, if not the certainty of a return, after midnight, of 

 an Aurora occurring before. Although, therefore, three distinct 

 and strongly marked ^te of the phenomenon had already occurred 

 on the evening of which we are speaking, the writer was curious 

 to ascertain whether there was not another yet to come. Accor- 

 dingly a watch was kept, and at about half past one, the north 

 was observed to be illuminated with a strong diffused light, like 

 the dawn, from which occasional streamers shot up faintly, so 

 high as forty degrees. Before half past two these appearances 

 gave place to a flickering light, which ascended in broad waves 

 half way to the zenith. At a quarter before three, this began to 

 subside, and observations were discontinued. 



The presence of the moon detracted, undoubtedly, very much 

 from the splendor of these successive exhibitions of celestial mag- 

 nificence. Bat for this circumstance, it is believed that the dis- 

 play at nine o'clock would have been gorgeous, beyond any yet 

 recorded by observers in this latitude. Indeed, the writer is dis- 

 posed to believe that it was such, notwithstanding this disadvan- 



VoL. XXXIV.— No. 2. 35 



