Miscellanea. 179 
hypothesis. I am persuaded, that the phenomenon of the corona 
borealis is produced in a narrow horizontal stratum of the earth’s 
atmosphere. Thanks to the discoveries of Dr. Faraday, we do not 
require a ferruginous sea in order to have polarized particles ; the 
watery crystals that inhabit the upper regions of the atmosphere 
can themselves assume a polar state, determined by the passage of 
electric currents ; and we have only to complete this fact by a 
hypothesis of luminous electric discharges seen refracted by these 
crystals, the position of visibility of the refracted rays depending on 
the angles of the crystals, and the deflections from the direction of 
the magnetic force which they suffer, by the electric currents. Such 
an hypothesis, which occurs at once when an optical phenomenon 
has to be accounted for, would explain these remarkable auroral 
clouds, so often seen in connection with the aurora itself; it would 
also serve to explain the appearance of the arch at certain altitudes, 
lower for lower altitudes, determined by the position of the source 
of light, direction of the magnetic force at the place, and the effect 
of the electric current in deflecting the crystals. The crystals 
successively deflected by electric currents would also exhibit the 
rushing pencils or beams. 
It need scarcely be remarked, that differently-formed crystals 
might give rise to different phases of the phenomenon ; while reflec- 
tion might be combined with refraction in certain cases, especially 
in the case ofarches seen south of the anti-dip. Such an hypothesis 
evidently assumes a source of light, independent of these optical 
resultants, and the pulsations seen in many aurore may be real 
luminosities. 
It is hazardous, in the present ill-arranged state of auroral obser- 
vation, to offer so rude a sketch of a new hypothesis, although we 
may suffer a considerable defeat in very good company.—Edinb. New 
Phil. Journal, January 1851. 
Resources or Russia. 
Tue metallic produce of the Russian empire in 1848 was, according 
to the official returns, as follows, viz :—1826 poods of gold; + pood 
of platinum: 1192 poods of silver; 254,569 poods of copper; and 
8,513,673 poods of wrought iron. The pood is equivalent to a 
little more than 36 lbs. avoirdupois. The gold from Russia, there- 
fore, represents a value of £3,944,832, making allowance for the 
English alloy.— Edinb. New Phil. Journal, October 1850. 
