212 Miscellanies. 
‘ POSTSCRIPT. 
26. Notice of an Aurora, in a letter to the Editor. 
Burlington, Vt. Sept. 30, 1837. 
Pror. Sirniman—Sir—A few weeks since I observed two auro- 
ral phenomena, which seemed so well adapted by their distinctness 
and steadiness to be identified in other places, that I take the liberty 
of transmitting a description to you for insertion in your Journal, 
should you think proper. 
On the 29th July, 1837, a luminous arch appeared, commencing 
8° or 10° from the eastern horizon: it passed between Alpha and 
Zeta Pegasi, between Alpha and Beta Lyre, just north of Arctu- 
rus, and terminated 19° or 20° from the western horizon. It was 
about 8° broad, and well defined. ‘Thus I first saw it about 10 h. 
P. M. It moved slowly to the south, fading at the extremities: at 
10 h. 15 m. it passed over Beta Cygni, faint but still well defined 
for some distance on each side of the meridian, about 2° broad, but 
soon vanished, the last traces appearing in the head of Hercules. 
There was at the same time a bright light along the northern hori- 
zon, but it presented no uncommon features. 
It is rather remarkable, that about a month afterwards a similar 
arch should occur at exactly the same time in the evening, and 
occupying very nearly the same place, but so it was. On the 25th 
of August it was nearly repeated, the eastern part, however, being a 
little farther north, touching at 10 P. M. Gamma Pegasi, and in 
12 m. or 15 m. moving over Alpha Pegasi, where it vanished; in 
the west below Arcturus, it sloped off to the northwest, making an 
angle of 45° or 50° with the horizon. ‘The western part disap- 
peared about 10 h. 15 m. by spreading. The northern light was 
brighter and more active than before, but too irregular and unsteady 
to admit a hope of recognition by others. 
Within ten years I have seen four similar phenomena, and much 
to my disappointment they all evince a stubborn aversion to respect- 
ing the magnetic meridian. 
Yours with high respect, 
James Dean. 
P.S. Burlington is in lat. 44° 28’, lon. 73° 15’. 
