1804. ] 
On the roth of June, two days fubfe- 
quent to the fingular phenomenon above 
yelated, I obferved the rays of the fun 
which came through a {kylight and fell 
on a ftone floor in my own houfg, afflumé 
a purple hue, as if the window had. been 
of ftained glafs 5 this was betweea 10 and 
a1 o'clock in the morning, the day was 
hazy, but not gloomy. I immediately 
went out of doors to examine into the 
caufe of fo unufual an appearance, when 
I obferved the clouds through which the 
fun occafionally gleamed, to be tinged 
with a purple colour, rather lively, but 
not bright ; the clouds came from the 
weft north-wett, not rapidly, but yet at 
times giving the atmofphere rather a tur- 
bulent appearance; the wind blew gently 
from the fame quarter. The clouds re- 
tained their purple hue during the whole 
day, though it became fainter towards 
fun-fet. This fingular appearance was 
noticed by many p:=rfons in the town and 
neighbourhood, and oceafioned fome alarm 
in the- minds of the timid. The mcon 
was obferved the evening preceding to 
put.om a fiery afpeét, glaring, but not 
bright; and the fun rofe on the morning 
of the roth, in a kind of haze, which, 
though it did not cbftru& ifs rays, de- 
prived them of their brilhiancy. 
Original Poetry. 
225 
The fimilarity of colour and appearance 
in the clouds, though in different degree, 
their courfe, the diftance of time, and the 
diregtion in which the wind blew on the 
roth, I think warrants an opinion, that 
thofe clouds formed a part of that denfe - 
body, which on the 17th obfruéted the 
rays of therfun on the coat of America. 
It is well known that the banks and coaft 
of Newfoundland are fubje&t to fogs fo 
extremely denfe, as almoft to exceed cre+ 
dibility in the minds of thofe who have not 
witneffed the fact ; whether it is not pro- 
bable that one of thefe immenfe bodies 
of condenfed vapours, may have been gra= 
dually raifed into the higher regions of the 
atmofphere, by the action of fome light 
current of air, fufficient for the purpofe, 
but not violent enough to difperfe it, and 
fufpended there till {wept to the eaftward 
by a welterly breeze, fome of your fcien- 
tific correfpondents may be able to deter- 
mine ; as alfo to fuggelt fome probable 
reafons for the difpotition to reflect the 
purple, or violet rays, rather than any 
other ; and their communications on the 
fubject will no doubt be inftructive and 
entertaining to many other of your readers 
as well as to Sir, your’s, &c. 
Poole, Sept. 15, 1804. 
J. BrisTowg, 
ORIGINAL POETRY. 
Cee eel 
AN ELEGY 
ON THE DEATH OF THE LATE REV. 
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D. &c, &c, 
IN PENNSYLVANIA. ; 
Extera terra jacet, heu, fepultus! 
T length, retiring from a world of ftrife, 
A The ftorms of trouble, and the ills of 
life 5 %. 
By all lamented, as by all admir’d, 
Worth finks to reft[—and PriestTriey has 
expir’d! 
Remote from tumults of the public fcene, 
Wifely undaunted, pioufly ferene, . 
‘He fought, till life’s great author bid it clofe, 
An exile’s refuge, and a faint’s repofe ; 
Far from the world, from noife and folly-far, 
The ftrife of nations, and the din of war, 
Philofophy there led her fayour’d child 
Through pathlefs wood, and unfrequented 
Bade with inquiring mind the fage furvey, 
Where faintly dawns the intelle€tual ray ; 
And there unfolded to his curious eye 
Natute in all her rich variety. 
Montuity Mac. No. 1206 
There too’ Religion, a celetial gueft, 
With holy comfort cheer’d the fage’s breat 
Vouchfaf’d o’er all his labours to prefide, 
In death his triumph, as in life his guide ! 
That God, who oft’ in life’s fevereft hours 
Repairs with heavenly ftrength our feeble 
powers 5 
Supports the Chriftian’s faith through trials 
long, : 
And bids him, trufting tn his arm, be ftrong! 
That God was his—when perfecution’s rage 
No peace could foften, and no art affuage; 
When malice rofe, with unrelenting hand, 
To f{courge affliéted virtue from the land, 
3 
Hence, friends to worth, to learning, and to 
fame, 
Behold his virtues, and revere his name! 
Tis your’s, to injured merit to be juft, — 
Kind to his fame, and faithful to his duft, 
Shall fouthing Flattery, with deceitfulbreath, 
Perfift to play the fycophant in death ; 
And, ¢dreft in mock folemnity of phrafe, 
Attempt to varnith, when it cannot praife ? 
surely 
