55 
Ordinary Meeting, January 11th, 1870. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The Chairman said that he had observed at Cheetham 
Hill on the evening of Monday the 3rd inst. at 7-30 p.m., 
a singular display of the Aurora Borealis. It consisted of 
an arch of white light, four to five degrees in breadth, a 
little south of the zenith extending from east to west, and 
passing through the Pleiades ; and a column of a deep crim- 
son colour, nearly due north, extending from the horizon 
to about 40° altitude, having slightly the character of 
streamers. The white arch also moved slowly to the south. 
The intensity of the red colour in the pillar was greater 
than any he had previously observed. 
Dr. Joule, F.B.S., said he had not seen the aurora of the 
3rd instant, referred to by the Chairman, but having been 
engaged on the same day in making observations with his 
new dip circle, he had noticed some remarkable disturbances 
of the magnetic dip which no doubt were connected with 
the auroral display. He had also noticed similar disturb- 
ances of the dipping needle during the gale on Saturday, 
the 8th instant. 
The following letters addressed to the President were 
read by one of the Secretaries : — 
Belmont, Monk Bretton, Barnsley, 
December 31st, 1869. 
Sir, — I have just seen in “Nature,” No. 7, a notice of a 
paper read by Mr. Binney, on November 17th, 1869, before 
Pkoceidings— Lit. & Phil. Society. — Vol. IX.— No. 8.— Session 1869-70. 
