104 JSotice of the late Aurora Borealis* 



an extract from my journal, relative thereto. ' Wind at N, 

 W. clear and pleasant. The last two nights, enlivened by 

 the aurora borealis. From time to J»e, a mist appeared to 

 form for 30°, along the horizon, emitting rays of the most 

 brilliant hues, till the whole heavens in that direction, beam- 

 ed with light, clear and pale, as is frequently seen reflected 

 by the sun, just after day-break.' " 



Mr. Baylies states further, that this mist extended from 

 the horizon towards the zenith about ten or fifteen degrees 

 — and that the flashes of light, which beamed from it, seem- 

 ed to exhaust it — that it grew paler and thinner, and the 

 light in the same proportion faded away, till both nearly dis- 

 appeared — then the mist formed again, and again emitted 

 this light. " This continued during the whole, or greater 

 part of the nights observed." Yours respectfully, 



t< t> j? oi-it ' Benjamin Lincoln, 



lo Professor kiuiman. 



From Dr. Pliny Hayes. 



Canandaigua, Nov. 19th, 1827. 



Dear Sir — Understanding that you intend to notice, in 

 your very valuable Journal, the extraordinary appearance of 

 the Aurora Borealis, seen sometime since, I send you a few 

 notes which I took at the time, in addition to those publish- 

 ed in the Ontario Repository of September 5th, which I am 

 informed you have in your possession. 



The account published in the Repository, was condensed 

 as much as possible, and some particulars probably omitted. 



About the time that the arch broke up into columns, it 

 seemed to be stationary, or rather to move back towards the 

 north. Soon after it moved again to the south, apparently 

 with a more rapid motion than ever, until it disappeared. 



When I first saw the arch in the north, its centre appeared 

 to be a few degrees east of north. 



The divergent extremities of the waves of light, were to- 

 wards the north. 



There was no wind and the evening was very cold. The 

 earth was unusually dry, even for the season. 



The next day, (29th,) the sky was overcast with a sheet 

 of horizontal clouds, apparently not very high, and dense 

 enough to exclude the rays of the sun. Weather cool. In 

 the evening the stars were partially visible. The 30th, the 

 sun shone. The clouds were light, somewhat scattered. 



