Notice of the late Aurora Borealis. 101 



view it, which he did with great trepidation, being then 

 about, fourteen years old, and having never seen an Aurora. 

 But by his account, he heard the noise attending the shoot- 

 ings and vibrations of the columns, more loud, and more 

 frequent than I ever had, or had heard of, for he heard not 

 only this rushing noise, which I as well as three or four of 

 my other acquaintances have repeatedly done, but loud claps 

 or snaps, of which he was so perfectly assured, that he told 

 me, he should not hesitate to confirm by his oath, if neces- 

 sary.* Query. — Does not this serve to confirm the notion, 

 that these aurora? are modifications of electricity, or that at 

 least, these dartings, and shootings, are an electrical ef- 

 fect ? I think that these appearances, and the effect they 

 have upon the magnetical needle, amount to demonstration, 

 that the needle is affected by these aurorae. I once observ- 

 ed myself, a very evident agitation, especially upon a 

 brisk shooting of the meteors. The needle I made use 

 of, was a very short and light one. If the noise attending 

 these vibrations were thus audible, you will agree with me, 

 that the aurora could not have been so far distant, as some 

 of the European writers upon the subject, suppose they 

 commonly are. — Since I wrote you, I have been informed 

 by a gentleman in my neighborhood, who saw the second 

 band, which I described as having occurred on Wednesday, 

 the third week in July, without mentioning the year ; I can 

 now certify, that it happened in the year 1769. 



We add the following parts of letters to the Editor and 

 some extracts from the Phil. Mag. &c. for November last. 



From Professor Cleaveland. 



Brunswick, Oct. 6, 1827. 

 My Dear Sir — The Aurora Borealis was so extensive on 

 the nights of the 27th and 28th of August, and the phenom- 

 ena have been so frequently described, that I shall mention 

 those circumstances only, which were peculiarly interesting. 

 On the evening of Tuesday, the 28th, about half past elev- 

 en, a luminous bow or arch, extended from N.W. to S.E. its 

 highest point being about 40° above the northern horizon. 

 Below the bow, all was dark, with the exception of a few stars. 



* He tells me in further conversation on the subject, that the claps, or snaps 

 which he heard, were most like the flapping of a vessels sails, when throwgt 

 up in the wind. 



