[ 333 ] 
whom I have now and then an article of bufinefs to 
tranfad. Upon my return home, about 8 h io y P. M. 
looking over the houfes oppofite to Alban-Hall j I 
obierved a very remarkable kind of light, forming 
the reprefentation of an exceeding bright crepufcu- 
lum, or expanded body of vapour, which diffufed 
itfelf over all the northern part of the hemifphere 
that prefented itfelf to my view. This I looked upon 
as a prelude to an Aurora Borealis , in fome form or 
other. But as fuch appearances are pretty common 
here, efpecially of late years, I then paid no great at- 
tention to it. About 8 h 55', not thinking of what I 
had feen, I threw up my fafh, and accidentally caff my. 
eye towards the N. W. where, to my very great fur- 
prize, I difcovered a luminous arch, [Tab. XIX.]; 
extending itfelf to the oppofite part of the heavens,, 
fomewhat refemblingan Iris , but of a bright white co- 
lour. I then went out into the ftreet, traverfed part 
of the town, and found the arch both in the N. W„ 
and S. E. to be nearly terminated by the horizon 
fo that it feemed to be almoft perfectly femicircular, 
and confequently in a manner to biffed; the hemi- 
fphere, when completely formed. The meteor was 
not exadly ered, but afcended obliquely, declining 
a little to the N. of the zenith. It was extremely, 
narrow, in breadth fcarce exceeding two degrees. 
It’s edges towards the S. E. were not fo well 
defined, but fomewhat jagged and unequal. From 
9 h to 9 h 1 it exhibited a moft vivid refplendent 
whitenefs, fuch as, I believe, was hardly ever ob- 
ferved before. During that term, the. phenomenon 
feemed altogether fixed and permanent, without in- 
creafe cr diminution, without any apparent motion 
