On the Aurora Borealis in Summer. 297 
‘Art. XIII.—Remarks on the occurrence of the Aurora Borealis 
in Summer; with an abstract of Huxham’s Auroral es 
from 1728 to 1748; by Epwarp C. Herrick. 
Art the recent meeting at Liverpool of the British Association for 
the Advancement of Science, Prof. Christie read a paper, in which 
he stated his belief that ‘‘ the occurrence of an Aurora Borealis in 
England in the middle of summer, is a phenomenon hitherto unre- 
corded.”’* ‘This belief is erroneous; and as the opinion is very 
generally entertained, that the Aurora Borealis is peculiarly a win- 
ter phenomenon, it may be worth while to show from published 
records that it pertains to midsummer no less than to midwinter. 
Nearly a century since, John Huxham, one of the most learned 
physicians of his time, published at London a Treatise on Epidem- 
ical Diseases.t Supposing that much information concerning the 
eauses of epidemics might be derived from observations of the 
weather, he devoted uncommon attention to meteorological studies. 
in his work, besides the ordinary phenomena of the weather, which 
he records with much apparent care, he furnishes a register of the 
Aurora Borealis for the space of twenty years. It cannot be sup- 
posed that his record is perfect ; for without extraordinary care and 
good fortune, occasional omissions are unavoidable; yet it is proba- 
bly a faithful and tolerably complete account of the Aurora Borea- 
lis, as seen at Plymouth in England during the time above stated. 
A mere quotation from this work, of the great displays of the Au- 
rora Borealis observed in summer, would be sufficient for my pres- 
ent purpose ; but as a record of this kind furnishes valuable data for 
determining whether, as is commonly supposed, the phenomenon 
returns at certain epochs with unusual frequency and brilliancy, I 
will here note every case which the author has recorded. 
In most of the instances which he has registered, the general 
character of the event is indicated by a single word ; in other cases 
a 
* See an account of Prof. Christie’s Memoir, in the London Athenzum of Sept. 
30, 1837, (No. 518,) p. 718. 
+ Observationes de Aére et Morbis Epidemicis, ab anno 1728 ad finem anni 
1737, Plymuthi facte, ete. Auctore Joanne Huxham, M.D. R.S.S.—edit. secun- 
da, Londini, 1752. 8vo.— Vol. alterum, ab anni nimirum initio 1738, ad exitum 
aisque 1748. Londini, 1752. 8vo.—The first edition of the first volume was pub- 
lished about 1739. I quote from the second edition. 
