The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-30 00:00:00

AURORA BOREALIS.

The following letters have been addressed to a
contemporary :
Sir,—About half-past 1 o'clock this morning, I
observed a fine aurora borealis occupying more than
one-half the sky. It had the appearance of an ir-
regular hemisphere of white light fringe, with a
band of crimson, from 20 deg. to 30 deg. broad,
stretching from S. W. to N.E. by E.
A few dark clouds served to give increased effect
to the phenomenon., Notwithstanding the great
light, the stars seemed to have increased in brilli-
ancy. Each of the six stars of the Pleiades was dis-
tinctly visible to the naked eye, more distinct than
I remember to have seen them even in the clear
nights of tropical regions. When the aurora ceased
this group resumed its usual somewhat dull and
misty appearance.—Your obedient servant,
OBSERVER.
Norcliff-lodge, Brighton, Aug. 20.

Sir,—l lose no time in sending you an account of
perhaps the most extraordinary phenomenon I have
ever seen (my experience dates back about 30 years)
a brilliant display of aurora borealis in August.
It commenced last night (Sunday) about 10 45
p.m., and has lasted probably the whole night (two
hours unavoidable sl‘,ep prevents my speaking with
certainty on the point).
On its first appearance there were several fine
streamers some of them white and some faint crim-
son extending from near the horizon almost verti-
cally to a and b Crete Majoris. From that time
till midnight there were generally very beautiful
streamers, but without lateral motion (which re-
mark applies to the whole display), most of them
being not quite vertical, but inclining slightly
towards the cast at the top. There was also
always a general light, extending at midnight
from N.B. to W., and sometimes bright enough to
enable a person to read the time on the face of an
ordinary watch.
There was generally a bank of clouds near the
north horizon, and sometimes this obscured the sky
for 20 degrees or so upwards.
Barometer steady at 29.8 (228 feet above the sea).
Air calm. While I write the approaching day-
light has put out the aurora. At 250 am. there
were two feathery streaks of light extending
from the horizon to near the zenith, and passing
across the a and b Ursa) Minoris.
Allow me to call your attention to the coinci-
dence of the time of the occurrence of this extra-
ordinary phenomenon with that of the appearance
of remarkable solar spots.
I remain, Sir your most obedient servant,
WILLIAM C. BUILDER.
Clifton, Monday, Aug. 29, 4 a.m.

Sir,—At a quarter past 12 o'clock a.m. this morn-
ing my attention was drawn to the illuminated
state of the sky to the S.W., which I supposed ori-
ginated from a fire. A kind friend having extensive
factories in the locality indicated, I at once pro-
ceeded to the spot, but on reaching a more open
space for observation, I was enabled to detect my
mistake as to the cause, and enjoyed the treat of
observing the aurora borealis in great brilliancy.
The intense glare of red, covering a very large ex-
tent to S.W., remained fixed for 20 minutes with-
out that play of light generally to be observed, and
in a N.E. direction rays of white light were play-
ing in all directions, and at intervals black masses,
their edges tinged with blood-red, produced a sub-
lime spectacle.
I remain, Sir your most obedient servant,
JOHN WEBSTER.
64a, Glocester-street, Pimlico, Aug. 29.

The mortal remains of the Countess (Dowager) I
of Norbury are to be interred at Kensall-green Cemetery
to-day. The funeral will be strictly private.
Baron d'Osten Sacken, Secretaire de la Legation
de Russie, has arrived at the Brunswick, Jermyn-street.
Sir John Lawrence, accompanied by Lady Law-
rence and four members of his family, arrived in Cork on
Thursday. The following morning they left for the Lakes
of Killarney.
The steam commercial marine of the United
Kingdom on the Ist January last comprised 1,854 vessels of
682,433 gross tonnage, since which they have increased to
1,939 vessels of 711,477 tons.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Behar has brought the first parcel of tea ever received in
this country by the overland route, thereby anticipating by
some six weeks the ordinary arrivals. It is fine Kaisow,
the produce of the new season, and has, we learn, been pur-
chased by Messrs. Bnllivant and Wilson, of Eaateheap, at
the full price of 3s. 4d. per pound.
The exchange at St. Petersburg, instead of having
been benefited by the new loan, has declined to 340 The
fall since its announcement has thus been lid., or 3 per
cent. This result will, of course, merely be temporary, but
it indicates that a large portion of the subscriptions must
have come from Russia.
There has been increased activity in the general
business of the port of London during the past week. The
number of ships reported inward was 275, and those cleared
outward amounted to 113, including 18 in ballast. The
export trade continues good, the actual shipment of British
goods to the colonies being rather holly.