[ I 3° J 
future Aurora, and the weather, that fhould fucceed 
them ; and, as I have obferved above, in twenty- 
three inftances, have found them uniform, except 
in degree : the gale generally commencing be- 
tween twenty-four and thirty hours after the firft 
appearance of the Aurora. More time and ob- 
fervation will probably difcover, whether the 
ftrength, of the iucceeding gale, is proportionate to 
the fplendor and vivacity of the Aurora , and the 
diftance of time between them. I only fufpecl, 
that the more brilliant and active the firft is, the 
fooner will the later occur, be more violent, but 
of fhorter duration, than when the light is lan- 
guid and dull. Perhaps too, the colour of the 
Aurora may be fome guide, in forming a judgement 
of the coming gale. That which preceeded the 
ftorm I have mentioned, was exceedingly fplendid. 
The tempeft fucceeded it in lefs than twenty-four 
hours, was violent, but of Ihort (about eight hours) 
continuance. In June laft, a little without found- 
ings, we had for two nights following, faint in- 
active Aurora ; the confequent gale was not hard, 
but lafted near three days: the firft day attended 
with haze, and fmall rain ; the fecond with haze 
only, and the laft day clear. 
The benefit which this obfervation, on the Au- 
rora Borealis , when further confirmed and known, 
may be of to feamen, is obvious, in navigating 
neat coafts, which tend eaft and weft, particularly 
in the Britiih channel. They may, when warned 
hy the Aurora Borealis , get into port, and evade 
the impending ftorm ; or, by ft retching over to the 
fouthward, facilitate their paflage, by that very 
ftorm. 
