326 Prof. E.. Loomis on the Aurora of 1859. 
currents; from Ashford to Ramsgate 24 north currents and 19 
south currents; and from Margate to Ramsgate nine north cur- 
rents and five south currents; that is, currents from north to south 
were somewhat more frequent than currents from south to north. 
Between Ashford and Margate the northerly currents were on 
an average one degree stronger than the southerly; between 
Ashford and Ramsgate the southerly currents were on an average 
four degrees stronger than the northerly; while between Mar- 
gate an msgate the northerly currents were on an average 
six degrees stronger than the southerly. Mr. Charles V. Walker 
from a discussion of these and other similar observations has 
arrived at the conclusion that in the S.E. part of England, there 1s 
a stream of electricity of indefinite width drifting across the country, 
moving to and fro along a line directed from N. 42° E. to S. 42° W. 
Now it is well known that an electric current has the power 
of deflecting a neighboring magnetic needle; the needle always 
tending to take up a position at right angles to the direction of 
the current; and if the direction of the current be reversed, the 
north pole of the magnetic needle will be deflected in a direction 
contrary to what it was in the first case. Mr. C. V. Walker has 
compared the magnetic observations made at Greenwich and 
Kew, and has discovered that the deflections of the magnets there 
observed were such as should be produced by the electric cur- 
rents observed on the telegraph wires, (Proc. Roy. Soc., Feb. 14, 
186 ) e may then employ observations of the magnetic 
needle as indicating the direction and force of the electric cur 
rents near the earth’s surfac 
minutes for a period of 24 hours on certain days of the year 
previously agreed upon. ‘These observations were annually 
ublished in a volume entitled ‘Resultate aus den Beobachtunge? 
es magnetischen Vereins,’ and afford the best materials we have 
extent of the deflections is generally somewhat greater at the 
