Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-03
PROVIDENCE.

AURORA BoREALIs.--Thc unusual bril-
liancy of the .aurora Boreals, this season.
has attracted the attention of the leaned and
the unlearned, the wise and the simple, and
each and all, haye. formed their opinions re-
spectng their origin. A correspondent, who +,
it seems, has contemplated the subject matter,
has made his appearance, and has furnished
us the following communication, which we lay
before our readers
FOR THE LITERARY CADET.
HarOra BOreaHs.-This remarkable appear
ance was unusually splendid on Tuesday cve-
ming last week "a broad arch oflioht extended
from north east to aorth ives, from which bright
streams OF light shot up in quick succession
from the north, and changing into various
lengths, and gradually died away as the arch
extended itself, leaving Il dark space under
meath, in which was body Of clouds collect
ing and rising towards tho south, while faint
flashes of light, of every size and shape, fitted
suddenly through the space above, and flashed
off in southery direction This continued
Tor some hours, until tho whole was strcwed
with dense clouds from the figid zone, and
put an end TO our view of this sublime and an
accountable phenomenon.
Various have been the opinions OF Astrono-
mcrs and others, concerning the philosophy of
these Appearances, none Of which, however,
have satisfied my mind, as to the cause, or
should not hazard an opinion ofmy own, at this
time, without considering that every one has u
right TO his own theory, concerning unac-
cOnntaJics had long entertained an opin-
ion, until the 25th uitimo, that the North
crn Lights. were produced by the reflection of
the suns rays, striking on the frozen ocean,
and the immense ice mountains, and glanc-
ing from the sides OF those enormous prisms
of ice, and the convex surface of the CLASSY
sea, and falling obliquely INTO the atmosphere
OF the temperate regions, were ma acniiied TO
the inhabitants of the temperate climates, and
formed the durora Boreaiis; but while OBJ
serving these appearances on the evening of
25th ult. | was led to form n new opinion which
will cast some reflections upon my former
theory; that is, that body Of clouds or vapor,
formed in the cold regions Of the north, and
driven into warmer climates, do, by coming
suddenly in contact with heated yapols in the
atmosphere, become electrical, and emit steady
rays of light at first; then the irregular beams;
and after advancing still further in the warm
space, discharge those volumes of ethereal
flame, or electric flashes, and finally vanish as
they become Incorporated or mixed with the
surrounding atmosphere. This being the case,
it will account for the chillness Of the air on
the following day. NORTH POLE.
REMARKs.-Rclativc to the .Aurora Bo-
reals, it is not improper TO remark, that their
origin has never been discovcred; and that
their history will, in all human probability, re-
main a profound my stery. Speculation, to
divine their first great cause" has been on
tip-toe, since the days of Simon the copper
smith, who dwclt by the sea side, in Galce
and as yet, no light has been cast upon the
subject. Every one has a right TO his opinion
! i'm relation TO tho causes which produce the
.Aurora Borealis, and as that Of our cores
| pondcnt, is worth as much any other mans,
| VIC give place to his communication, in the
! same shape that it appeared TO us, without
adopting the positions it assumes, or denying
the correctness Of the writer's hypothesis
We thank our friend for his good intentions
and although we think the subject matter OF
the communication, may be interesting to some
of our more speculative readers, We are by no
means anxious 10 publish, any thing more, in
relation to the subject.