1S89.] 1 i i [Lesley. 



Professor Cresson introduced the subject of the brilliant 

 Aurora Borealis of the preceding evening, which Dr. Emer- 

 son, Mr. Price, and Mr. Chase described as seen b}^ them. 



Mr. Lesley said that it was so brilliant and roseate at Washington, 

 D. C, that the fire engines were taken out ; that it did not invade the 

 southern half of the heavens to any extent ; biit that he observed a 

 brightly illuminated feather, 30° or 40° in length from east to west, float 

 slowly west-noith-westward. some little distance south of the zenith, 

 gradually expanding its dimensions but scarcely changing its form, during 

 half an hour. Its head or eastern point was, when first seen, say 40° east 

 of the meridian, and at the end of half an hour, cxuite that distance west 

 of the meridian. It was evidently an electrified cirrus cloud, and could 

 no doubt have been watched until it sank to the horizon, but for the fact 

 that it passed lengthwise directly vmder the moon, then about fovir days 

 old, and very bright. Castor and Pollux shone brightly through it, as it 

 passed beneath them. At one time an auroral feather shot from its 

 northern edge and streamed along, westward, nearly parallel with its 

 northern edge, continuing brilliant about twenty seconds. Soon after, an 

 electric spot glowed suddenly in its centre for about the same length of 

 time. With these exceptions, it appeared steadily and uniformly illumi- 

 nated. Mr. Lesley compared it with the triple curtain aurora which he 

 saw July 23d, 1862, on the banks of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 

 described in the Proceedings of the Society, Vol. IX, page 60. 



Dr. Emerson called the attention of the Society to the Eob- 

 bins' process for preserving wood from mould and decay by 

 the injection of the vapors of coal tar. Professor Cresson ex- 

 plained the difference between this and other processes for 

 attaining the same end; especially one now in use in Phila- 

 delphia, in which the spontaneous inflammability of wood 

 injected with high volatile hydrocarbons is guarded against 

 by a subsequent injection of the surface with silicates. 



Nominations Nos. 622 and 626 were read and spoken to. 

 At the request of the recommeuders, nomination No. 626, after 

 being discussed, was postponed, for the purpose of affording 

 an opportunity for associating with it other names mentioned 

 in the discussion. Nos. 622 to 625 were then balloted for. 



The Rittenhouse Clock. The curators were authorized to 

 have it put in complete order, although it is no longer fit to 

 use for astronomical purposes. 



The following named persons were declared duly elected 

 members of the Society : 



