Notice of the late Aurora Borealis. 99 



ary for one or two hours, if I remember right, without the 

 least alteration of place or color. 



The second which I saw, was some ten or fifteen years 

 after the first. It occurred on Wednesday evening of the 

 third week in July, but in what year I know not. It seemed 

 to occupy the same place in the heavens as the former ; and 

 I think it began to show itself early in the evening, before the 

 twilight had fully shut in. The color similar to, but rather 

 brighter than that of the first, and I well remember that its 

 form was exactly like that of the area contained between two 

 meridians, placed three or four degrees distant from each 

 other ; the greatest breadth being in the zenith and termina- 

 ting in the horizon, as meridians do at the poles, and its edges 

 perfectly defined. It continued stationary all the evening. 

 I would observe, that I do not recollect any light in the north 

 accompanying either of these appearances, and if there had 

 been any such, I think I should have remarked it. 



The phenomenon, of the 28th of August last, I did not 

 see till thirty minutes after ten, and at that time the high- 

 est part of the luminous band, I estimated to be eight or ten 

 degrees south of the zenith ; the sides of the band nearly 

 parallel ; the color of its fight more like that of the moon 

 and much more brilliant than that of the two above mention- 

 ed. I think it is remarkable that all these phenomena should 

 occupy the same region in the heavens. 



But these appearances are not to be compared in point of 

 beauty and magnificence, with some forms of the Aurora 

 Borealis, of which it has been my good fortune to have been 

 twice an admiring spectator. It is impossible for me to give 

 you an adequate description of them, but as what I have 

 said may have excited your curiosity, I will endeavor to de- 

 scribe what I saw as nearly as I can. Imagine then, all that 

 region of the northern heavens between the N. W. and E. 

 N.E. covered with a sheet of light consisting of the four 

 least refrangible rays, (for I saw no trace of the blue, and 

 the green rays were very pale,) resting on, or proceeding 

 from a black cloud in the horizon ; and this extensive surface 

 all alive by the constant agitation of columns of different col- 

 ored rays, starting upwards, vibrating, dancing, changing, 

 coruscating every moment, till they arrived at the zenith, or 

 rather four or five degrees south of it. There the columns 

 which had risen perpendicularly, assumed a horizontal direc- 

 tion, and a gyratory motion, and put on the appearance of 



