284 L iterary and Ph ilosoph teal Society. 



society of Manchester has ever experienced a severei* 

 calamity than by his death.' 



In a somewhat fuller account of Sturgeon written by Dr. 

 Joule and published in the Society's Memoirs, vol. xiv., 2nd 

 sen 1856-7, p. 78, the following specimen of his writing is 

 given : — 



* The electric fluid is so universally diff"used throughout 

 every part of nature's productions, that every particle of 

 created matter, both animate and inanimate, which has 

 hitherto been contemplated by the philosophers, is full of 

 this surprising animated elemental fire. 



' In regions far above the surface of the earth, where 

 the air is much attenuated and so far thinned, near to the 

 utmost verge of the atmosphere, as to become a conduct- 

 ing medium, the electric element plays its quivering 

 streamers and sparkling corruscations in the beautiful 

 aurora of the north. Sometimes this rare — this fascinat- 

 ing phenomenon — is exhibited in a steady glowing arch of 

 light ; whilst at others, it expands its dancing network in 

 transient display over the whole concave of the visible 

 heavens. 



* At altitudes less elevated than those which form the 

 grand theatre for the display of the aurora borealis, the 

 electric discharges become more compact, and shoot 

 slanting downwards on bright serene evenings these 

 beautiful gleaming orbs of meteoric light which from 

 ancient custom are still called falling stars. 



* Still less elevated in the atmosphere the long black 

 clouds swell with the electrical element, in all those grand 

 magnificent and splendid forms of lightning, with their 

 tremendous peals of thunder, so frequently displayed in 

 most countries during the transient rage of a majestic 

 summer's storm. 



