91 
Ordinary Meeting, February 6th, 1872. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., President, in the Chair. 
Mr. Sidney J ewsbury was elected an ordinary Member of 
the Society. 
Dr. Joule, F.RS., called attention to the very extra- 
ordinary magnetic disturbances on the afternoon of the 
4th instant, and from which he anticipated the aurora which 
afterwards took place. The horizontally suspended needle 
was pretty steady in the forenoon of that day, but about 
4 p.m. the north end was deflected strongly to the east of 
the magnetic meridian, and afterwards still more strongly 
to the west. The following were the observations lie had 
made : — 
Deflection from the 
Deflection from the 
Magnetic Meridian. 
Magnetic Meridian. 
Time. 
0 
/ 
Time. 
• 
/ 
4-0 
p.m 
0 
50 
E. 
6-10 
p.m. ... 
1 
24 
W. 
4-30 
33 . . . . 
0 
47 
W. 
6-12 
33 
1 
8 
33 
4-55 
33 . . . . 
2 
22 
33 
7-41 
33 . . . 
0 
10 
33 
4-58 
33 . . . . 
3 
0 
33 
7-43 
33 
0 
0 
33 
5-9 
33 . . . . 
3 
45 
33 
8-9 
33 
0 
42 
33 
5-12 
33 . . . • 
0 
52 
33 
8-31 
3) 
0 
10 
33 
5-23 
33 . . . . 
5 
36 
33 
8-54 
J) 
1 
18 
33 
5-24 
33 • • • • 
2 
28 
33 
8-58 
33 
0 
52 
33 
5-35 
33 . . . . 
0 
52 
33 
11-3 
33 
0 
5 
33 
5-55 
33 . . . . 
0 
52 
33 
Mr. Sidebotham states that he also expected the mag- 
nificent aurora on account of the violent disturbance of the 
needle at Bowdon, amounting to at least 3°. Observation 
with the spectroscope by Dr. Joule showed a bright and 
almost colourless line near the yellow part of the spectrum. 
This line appeared to whatever part of the heavens the 
instrument was directed, and could be plainly seen when 
Pkc>9eedings— Lit. & Phil. Soc. — Yol. XI.— No. 9.— Session 1871-2. 
