Notice of the late Aurora Borealis. 103 



The wind blew fresh from the south west, the air was un- 

 usually cold and piercing, and many small dark clouds were 

 flying towards the N. E. According to the best of my re- 

 collection, the aurora was first observed about 8 o'clock, at 

 which time a small arch in the north, was feebly lighted, the 

 light at first remaining quite uniform and steady. It grad- 

 ually extended towards the east and west, rising higher, 

 growing more brilliant and flickering, with occasional vivid 

 flashes, from the north which reached the zenith, and at times 

 a play of feeble colors, till between ten and eleven o'clock, 

 when my attention was first fixed exclusively upon the aurora. 

 At that time, the whole arch from east through north, to N. 

 W. was brilliantly illuminated, the brightest spot all the time 

 being in the north, and the next brightest nearly in the east. 

 Several bright streams of light, following each other in quick 

 succession, issued from the north, passed the zenith, and 

 reached to within 30° of the horizon in the point south. At 

 the same time, bright flashes came from the east passed to- 

 wards the N. W. meeting and apparently crossing the light 

 from the north. 



It should be borne in mind, that the aurora was very ac- 

 tive throughout the whole of the arch before mentioned, to 

 wit, from east to north west — these flashes from the north, 

 and from the east were distinguished from the rest by their 

 greater brilliancy. After this the light gradually diminished, 

 and I left the deck without seeing the end of this interest- 

 ing phenomenon. Yours most respectfully, 



Prof. Silliman. Benjamin Lincoln. 



Boston, Nov. 19th, 1827. 



Dear Sir — Since my last, I have heard of a fact which 

 seems to me strongly to support the theory that the aurora 

 borealis is an electrical phenomenon. I hope this may reach 

 you in season, to be introduced into your paper on the Au- 

 rora, should you think it a fact worth consideration. It was 

 communicated to me, by Mr. Edmund Baylies, now of this 

 city ; a gentleman, in the accuracy of whose observations, 

 we may place implicit confidence. 



"In the year 1817," says Mr. Baylies, "on the nights 

 of the 15th, and 16th of March, on the road from Stock- 

 holm, to Tornea, I noticed Avith much interest, and atten- 

 tion, the appearance and conduct of the Aurora Borealis. 

 As these were noted down at the moment, I will give you 



