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XIV. A Letter from the Rev. Henry Miles, 
D . D. and F. R.S. to Henry Baker, F. R . S. 
concerning- an Aurora Borealis feen Tan. 
23 * * 75 °- 5 *' 
Dear Sir , 
"Read Feb. 22. /^\ N Tuefday , 23d of January laft, I 
1,49 was called out, about Six in the 
Evening, to fee a ftrange Appearance in the Sky, in 
the Weft. Sufpecting it to be an ordinary Aurora, I 
did not make great Hade — When f came out, I law 
a Cloud (not large) of an obfeure red Colour, but 
much deeper than any I had ever feen before, which, 
I was informed, role from the S. W. it was then 
advancing apace to the N. E. and quickly reached 
the Zenith, when, it being intercepted by the Houfe, 
I haftened to the other Front, which regards the N E. 
by which time there appeared a luminous Zone, about 
the Breadth of the Gaiaxy, its Edges regularly defined, 
compafling the Hemifphere, from the Horizon in the 
N. E. to the Zenith, in the fame Direction, in which 
the above-mentioned Cloud had paffed (as far as I 
faw its Courfe) from the S. W. The Colour was 
much fainter, and more luminous, refcmbling the 
ufual Colour of an Aurora , and the Lamina or 
Streamers foon appeared — upon this, not being well 
fenced againft the Wind, which blew brisk, 1 went 
in, to purfue my Intention of viewing the two 
beautiful Planets, Jupiter and Venus, with a reflect- 
ing Telefcope, made by my ingenious Friend Mr. 
Short of Surrey-ftreet (the greateft magnifying Power 
of which is about 200 Times) 5 and after I had 
viewed 
