Star.
London, England, 1827-09-27 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENTS AT CAMBRIDGE.

The extensive additions and alterations lately Made
as some of the Colleges in Cambridge, and the im-
provements still in progress, reflect equii honour on
the taste aid liberality of the heath of the University,
•81 the architectural skill and genius of the Age. The
most conspicuous of the recent improvements are the new
buildings erected at King's College, which principallY
consist of an extensive wing on the south side, in a line
parallel with the celebrated Chapel of Kings.ln the cede re
is the porter's lodge, the proportion!, elegance, and per-
fect execution of which can be surpassed only by.shi
Chapel itself. In udddition to the Lodge; the south wing
of King's contains the Hill end a vast nurnber of spirt-
meats for the students, hitfierth scattered over the eowi
in lodgings, for want of accommodation at the College;
The style of the architecture harmonides with that
of the Chapel, which it is almost needless to say is
the beautiful ornamented gdthic, which reached its
climan of perfection in the reign of Henry
The whole of these improvements are highly creditable
to the taste and ability of .the architect, Mr. %I/0in::
To Bennet College a new square of buildings has
been added, with an extensive entrance front on the
west side, along Trumpton.street, where " goeth a
brook," as Chaucer said full fbur hundred years ago.
The Chapel ii on the east, opposite the entrance, the
ball on the north, and the library on the Smith. Here
also is an extensive range of apartmen s for andevits.
Inside the square the buildings present a remarkably
neat and classih appearance, the effect of which it,
perhaps, improved by the interior space being co:
vered, as in the other Colleges, with fresh Breen turfs
as trim and smooth as the verses of Pope, whkh, ac-
cording to Dr. Johnson's well knoivn simile, trete
s' shaven by the scythe, add leielled with the roller.'
Au additional square to St. John's College is now in
the course of erection on the western, or opposite,
side of the Cam, which, it is Calculated, will cost up,
wards of 30,0001. A communication between the
new and old buildings will be effected by means of an
elegant bridge, intended to be thrown across the river,
In the Fitawilliam Museum they* is ai drawing of
proposed improvement in the buildings ettending along
Trumpington-street, in which the front of Caius Col-
lege is removed, and the whole line of street thrown
open, when Kidg's College, the Unitersity Library, the
Senate House, Caius, Trinity, and St. John's Colleges,
appear in regular succession, in one unbroken ciewz—a
This coup creil, if effected, must be purchased at an
enormous expense, but it would be the grandest in the
kingdom, the most splendid and honourable panoraina.
which Britain could exhibit.

FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE AURORA sqaEALls,

COVITICVIID PROM 1111 Hit OP TaurieinAir.

Upon leaving the house of a friend on Monday night
at about half-past eleven o'clock, my attention Was attracted to a sin
solar appearance of light and strea►inns Ia the sky, and I imme-
diately perceived that it wan a moat vivid and beautiful appearance
of Aurora Borealis. I °berried it for nearly two hours. The sky to
the north waenbscured for about 15 degrees above the borlion, by
*dense atratum of black clouds ; from the upper edge of this the
light became first apparent,exteuding from nearly north-east to north
west, exceeding considerably in power that arising from the moan
just pretisua to its rising. From this broad stratum of pale yellowtail
tight, shot beautiful pencils of a luminous bay appearance up to
the very sepia, changing momentarily in length and Intensity.—
During ibis period the wind blew gently hoot the south ; and I fre-
quently observed, that when it freshened a little, the Aurora Borealis
became more brilliant in its appearance, sending beautiful cosusca.
dons of light, in rapid successioa,towafds the length, and friqoesay
passing that point ten or directs degrees southward. I have tarn
assured by those who arc well acquainted with this beautiful phe.
nomenon, that they have not seen any appearance of it equal in
brilliancy and beauty to this for upwards of six.and.thirty years.
ANOTHER AbCOUNT.

Monday night we were favoured with that interesting phenomit.
non the Aurora BMusHs, or northern twilight, which so often
amuses and cheers oar neighbours in the North, but seldom; I •
believe, is seen In oar latitude. It was with thew varied colours
which cause it to be a grand spectacle in those regions where, we
trust, our brave and scientific countryman is safely journeying. Not
far from the horizdn, in the northern hemisphere, where tradsparent
bodies of light, eclipsing the brightness of the stars,which were, how.
ever, perceptible through it. From hence beams of light, varying in
degrees of brightness and breadth, shot op towards the zenith:
bete streamers of light flew from the east to the nest and
from west to east. The southern hemisphere was cloudie.s, the
stars alining with brilliancy. By the light of this tfirenosnetillr I
could discern the time of night; which was between i I and 111, as
well as other objects, as they appear on a moan-tight night, when the
moos is obscured with clouds.
On the same evening, I was also greatly surprised in discotering
an libunbiateri centipede, Wundnated ebnihtly ter the glaw-wornst
excepting that the whole body was one streak or light. It left spots
of phosphoric light as it crawled—on placing It in a glass, the light
sias not apparent, but returned when replaced on the stones,

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A more brMinit dhplay of the noodles* lights has dot been *fi-
nessed for many years than *kat took place on Monday eight. I
had a full and fair opportunity of observing it for miles: About
ten In the evening I walked from Camden Town to Hampstead.
The sky in the north appeared as though a bright mono shone from
behind some dark masses of cloud.. AI I approached Hampstead,
the dltery light was gradually tinged with rosy spiral streams, like
those which sometimes precede the rising, and follow dunning
sun. Those spiral red streaks did not appear to move quickly, bet
they were subsequently followed by the merry dancers, which fully
Maintained the character bestowed updn them by our northern
ndshboun. After passing (hrough Hampstead, I noosed the
heath, and came down what it called North-end-kill to Holder's-
green, Hendon. When you ernes at the foot of the kill, you tette
=he open put of Goiderl-green, where you have a clear oft.
ted vie* of the sly front west to nottb. I shall never forget
the grandeur of the scene which awaited me there. A continuous
border of dark cloud skirted the Dodson completely from west to
neigh, whilst from behind it incessantly and rapidly shot up tht
most beautiful anoscations of white light, which being teheved by
the dirt bolder, added dobble brilliancy fd the ever.shiftldp teener
A very small comet was observed cur the first One
on the 3d of August, by Mr. Pose, the &rector of till
Observatory at Florence. It was then in the cosissolin-
tion of the Lynx, sod was &sending towards the meek
west'