to think, before A llfiW theory, how* 
e ^er plausible, can gain the ascendency 
°t a n antiquated .erro-iv” 
AUW I have not heard from you late- 
project ot a subterranean tour, and that 
you will one day meet with assistance, if 
not from our own, from some government’ 
tho* I could wish it to be ours who 
would first appreciate the value of such 
a discovery. 
With respect and esteem, I am,, 4ear 
sir, your very humble servant. 
HUGI l STEEL. 
Capt. ,fohn Cleves &yimnes. 
Cincinnati Reading Room, Oct. 13,1819. 
I he Aurora Borealis, which was to be seen 
last evening: in the north, extended up the heav¬ 
ens in ail area, elevated about 3U deg', it did noi 
exhibit as much party-coloured light; as is usual; 
but a white light, which vibrated but little. 
I have frequently reflected on the nature of these 
lights, and conclude that they are produced in 
the mid-plane cavity of an aerial sphere above 
us, by means of’a vibrating tremulous motion in 
such sphere, similar to the vibrating convulsions 
of our sphere of solids in time of an earthquake. 
1 1 suppose tiie tremulous action to progress some¬ 
what like rapid moving w avcs > progressing 
(through a very rare fluid medium; this action, 
I by agita.ing and successively compressing the 
I renal fluid confined in the hikl-pkme cavity of 
such arial sphere, must condense such fluid so 
as to set free heat and light before latent, just as 
heat and light are set free in the breech ot an air 
gun when one is loading it. 
