The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-16 00:00:00

SPLENDID AURORA BOREALIS.

Mr. Lowe, writing from the Observatory, Bees
t'on, under date of March 9, says :—This evening`,
we have had an Aurora Borealis which in magnifi- 1
sense has not been surpassed for some years. In
1841 (on March 22), Professor Phillips at York, and
Professor Stevelly at Belfast, described a very simi-
lar display, and on the 3d of December 1845, a grand
auroral arch crossed south of the zenith of this
Observatory, but was less bright than the present
phenomenon, and also had features differing much
from that of this evening. At 8 p.m. there was an
auroral glare on the northern horizon, and from.
9h. 45m. till 10h. 45m. p.m. the whole northern:
heavens were covered with bright red aurora. At
this place much cloud intercepted the northern
heavens, which rendered this part of the phenome-
non confused; but within the distance of a couple
A' miles a red arch was seen which, from the descrip-
tion, must have passed near Polaris. At 10 o'clock
the southern half of the heavens became cloudless,
and a colourless arch was seen stretching across
the sky from east to west. This arch remained
visible till 10h. 45m. p.m., when it faded away and'
the sky became overcast. At 10h. 18m. I took
the position of the arch among the stars ; it com-
,menced in the west at Orion's belt (those three stars
being about 20 degs, within the arch), it passed
across Procyon, Jupiter, and Arcturus. and ex-
tended
15 degs. below the latter star. These
'prominent objects are excellent guides by which
Ito ascertain its height above the earth. The arch
;was a broad band of soft, white, calm, strong,
!steady light, being broadest at the apex, and.
',apparently rolling round upon itself with great
!rapidity, with a short, tremulous, vibratory, and un-
adulatory motion. The stars were not dimmed by it,
and stars of the third and fourth magnitude were,
:seen shining through it, but the pla\met Jupiter was
very sensibly dimmed, and often a baw was formed
around this planet. One observer told me that it
!hid stars, but I am quite as positive that it did
!not, and that the circumstance of Jupiter being
,dimmed has led to the belief that the stars also.
4
I were dimmed in light. I find, in reference to this
;point, that sometimes the stars have been found
ito shine brightly through an auroral arch, and'
'that at others they have been known to be quite
tobscured. Sir W. E. Parry remarks that on Jan.
il5, 1820, " the stars were somewhat dimmed, con-
trary to former experience ;" that OR July 8, 1820,
Aldebaran and the Pleiades were sensibly
;dimmed ;" that on October 2, 1820, " stars were
3
sometimes altogether obscured ;" and that on Dec.
114, 1821, " stars of the second magnitude were
•Idimmed." Professor Stevelly remarks on March
122, 1441, that " stars in the Lion shone brighter
iithrough the aurora." Dr. Falconer, on December
-3, 1845, states that " in the centre of the arch stars
were invisible," while from this observatory on the
same occasion I made a note that " stars shone
ignite brightly through it."
'j The arch did not always keep at one brightness
being sometimes considerably brighter ; mostly
:!whatever change occurred east of the apex also
;:,,occurred west of it. From 10h. 18m. till the time
:;it disappeared the arch did not move among the
!stars ; except a bending about the planet Jupiter at
110 h. 32m., and a little oscillatory motion near the
Ispex, the legs of the arch never moved their posi-
Non. During the latter portion of the time the
arch split almost longitudinally in the north-east
several times, and re-united. In fading away the
cdiminution in brightness was gradual and equal
throughout the whole arch.
No doubt, this phenomenon will have been very
generally observed. The day had been very fine,
!with a westerly breeze..

TEIS DAY'S MARKETS.

COVENT GARDEN.

The show of trait continues much restricted, and only
moderate supplies of most kinds of vegetables are on sale.
laenerally speaking, the trade is firm, at the annexed rates:

FRUIT.

s. d. s. d.
['ine apples, perlb 12 0 to 11 0
Colonial do., each 1 6 to 2 0
'3,rapes,per lb 10 0 to 12 0
Foreign do 2 0 to 3 0
Ilelons, each
Peaches, perdoz 6 0 to 12 61
Nectarines, per dz 2 0 to 6 0
fipples, per hf.ev. 2 0 to 4 0
Pears, per do .... 3 0 to 6 0 \
Oranges, per 100 5 0 to 15 0
Lemons, per 100.. 4 0 to 10 0
etpricots, per dot 2 0 to 4 0

e. d. e. d
Cherries, per lb 0 oto 0 0
Filberts, per lb 1 oto 1 0
Cobnuts, per lb 1 6to 2 0
Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 0
Walnuts, per 100 1 oto 2 0
Figs, per doz 2 oto 4 6
Strawberries, oz 2 0 to 9 0
Gooseberries ht sv 0 oto 0 c
Currants, per do. 0 oto 0 0
Plums, per do.
Greengages, pr do. 0 oto 0 0
Raspberries, pr ptlo oto 0 0
'MMES. -

Greens, dz bunch 5 0 to 7
Cabbages, pr doz. 1 6 to 1 9 1
Savoy do., pr do. 1 6 to 1 9
Cauliflowers, p dz 1 0 to 3 0
Brocoli, per dz 0 0 to 0 0
Potatoes, per ton 100 to 160 01
New ditto, pr pun. 1 0 to 0 0
Peas, per A sieve 20 0 to 0 0
Turnips, dz bunch 4 0 to 5 0
Carrots, pr do 7 to 8 0
Cucumbers 1 0 to 2 6
Garlic, per lb
Sorrel, per sieve 0 0 to 0 0
Spinach, hf.-sv 0 6 to 0 8
Brus. sprouts,h.s. 1 3 to 1 9
Old onions, hf. sv. 1 3 to 2 0
Do.' dz bun
French beans, 100 4 0 to 0 0
Leeks, per bunch 0 0 to 0 0
NEWGATE ANI

Shallots, per lb .. 0 6to 0 E,
Horseradish, pbn 1 oto 3 0
Parsley, per ditto 0 2to 0 4
Celery, per ditto 0 Bto 1 6
Beet, per doz. .. 1 6to 2 6
Parsnips, per do. 0 oto 0 0
Small salad, p. pn, 0 2to 0
Mushrooms,p pun 0 9to 1 8
Artichokes, pr dz 4 oto 6 0
Cabbage lett,score 1 oto 2 0
Endive, per score 1 oto 2 0
Radishes, dz buds 0 6to 0 0
Tomatoes, hf sve 4 010 6 0
Walnuts, per 100 0 oto 0 0
Chillies, per ditto 0 oto 0 0
Capsicums, per do 0 oto 0 C
Rhubarb, per bun 0 6to 1 0
Asparagus, pr do. 6 oto 8 0
Seakale, per pun. 0 9 to 2 0
) LEADENHALL.

Turkeys, 4s Od to 108 Od ; poults, 4s Od to 7s Od each ;
;eese, 4s Od to Cs Od ; goslings, Os Od to 8s Od ; ducklings,
3s 6d to 58 Od ; rabbits, is Od to is 9d each ; wild do., 9d
to is 2d ; pigeons, Os 9d to is Od each ; large Surrey fowls.
8s Od to Us Od ; chickens, 68 Od to 8s Od; barn-door fowls.
4s Od to 8s Od ; capons, 4s Od ; hares, 4s Od to Os Od
;rouse, is Gd to 2s Od each; pheasants, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ;
ptarmigan, 2s Od to Os ; woodcocks, 4s Od to Os Od; snipes, 2E
Od to Os Od ; teal, Os to Os is 6d ; wild ducks, 25 6d to Os Od ;
widgeons, is 3d to is 6d ; plovers, is Gd to Os Od each :
guinea fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; roasting pigs, Os Od to 9s Od
aach ; Ostend fresh butter, is Od to is 2d ; English, is
to is 6d per lb ; English eggs, 7s 6d to 95 Od ; French do,
7s Od to 8s Od per 120 ; leverets, 2s 6d to Os Od each.