90 
ME. C. V. WALKEE ON MAGNETIC STOEMS AND EAETH-CUEEENTS. 
The above are specimens of disturbances that made themselves, at that period, veiy 
conspicuous. On the one hand, they were inconvenient to the good working of the 
telegraph ; on the other, they opened out a new field of inquiiy. I therefore issued the 
following circular to all the telegraph stations under my control, viz. those on the 
South-Eastern Eailway : — 
“General Order, No. 54. October 25, 1847. To all Telegraph Clerks. 
“ The needles are occasionally defiected by atmospheric causes. Whenever this occurs 
make accurate notes of the time, the direction, and all changes ; continue these notes as 
long as the phenomena endure ; and notice the different effects on the different instru- 
ments and on the bells. Send the notes to this office on the follovdng morning. Those 
on night duty at such times are to look out for the aurora borealis, and if possible to 
describe it. 
(Signed) “ Chaeles V. Walkee, 
'■‘■Superintendent of Telegraphs. 
“ Send all the notes you made on Saturday and yesterday immediately.” 
The instruments on which the above observations, and all that form the subject of 
this communication, were made, are Cooke and Wheatstone’s well-known double-needle 
and single-needle telegraphs. A magnetized needle is suspended vertically in a vertical 
galvanometer coil ; an outer needle on the same axis as the other serves as an index ; its 
motion is limited by a pair of ivory studs, permanently fixed about an inch apart in the 
metal face of the instrument. 
That these disturbances were connected with the appearance of aurora borealis and 
magnetic storms was soon recognized, as may be gathered from the extracts that have 
been given, as well as from the following taken from my ‘ Electric Telegraph Manipu- 
lation,’ published March 1, 1850 : — 
“ 85. Magnetic storms . — Did any doubt remain of the electrical character of the 
Aurora Borealis, it would be removed by the phenomena presented by the needles of the 
telegraph, and often by the bells, during the prevalence of this meteor. At such times 
the needles move just as if a good working current were pursuing its ordinary com'se 
along the wires : they are deflected this way or that, at times with a quick motion and 
changing rapidly from side to side many times in a few seconds, and at other times 
moving more slowly and remaining deflected for many minutes with greater or less 
intensity, their motions being inconstant and uncertain. These phenomena have 
occurred less frequently on the part of the line between Keigate and Dover, which runs 
nearly E. and W., and on the part between London and Eeigate, which is nearly 
N. and S. When, however, they do make their appearance on the telegraphs in those 
parts, we are prepared to expect auroral manifestations when night arrives ; and we are 
rarely disappointed. The deflections, in their variations, appear to coincide with the 
various phases of the aurora. On the branch line running from Ashford to Eamsgate, 
