1 
IV. An Account , by Mr. John Eames, F. <!{. S. 
of a ’Bool^entltled, Traite Physique et 
Historique De L’Aurore Boreale, 
Par Mr. De MaiRan. Suite des Me- 
mcires de l’Academie Royale des Sciences, 
Annee MDCCXXXi : Or, a Thilofophical and 
Hijiorical Treati/e concerning the Aurora Bo- 
realis 5 iBy Mr. De Mairan, being a Sup- 
plement to the Memoires of the Academy of 
Sciences for the Year 1751. 
T HE frequent Appearances of the Northern 
Lights in feveral Parts of Europe and Ameri- 
ca-, and the furprilingly beautiful Phenomena that 
have been obferved in fome of them, fuch as the 
Rainbow-Colours, Canopy, &c, have very juflly 
engaged the Phiiofophers of the prefent Age in a Search 
after the Caufes of them. Several Hypothefes have 
been invented and propofed by the Learned, in order 
to explain thefe things. Molt of them fuppofe thefe 
Phofphorus like Appearances to proceed from certain 
Effluvia, either perfpired out of our Earth, or at 
leaft palling through ir. But our ingenious Author 
has thought of a Caufe very diftant, as well as very 
different from all thefe, viz. the Atmofphere of the 
Sun, which at fome times fhews itfelf under the Ap- 
pearance of a Light, which he calls the Zodiaeal 
Light, but at other times produces an Aurora Bore - 
