The Litchfield County post., 1828-01-17

sitiOR falling some times from ten to fifteen degrees towards the horizon. A bright light was seen issuing at the same moment, from behind a heavy cloud in the south east, as if the moon were about to emerge from it, though she had, in fact, just set in an opposite direction. The northern hemisphere was soon filled with stripes of the same fiery hue, which were conStant- ly changing their form and mineling with each other, while vivid coruscations of light, like distant flashes of lightning, were constantly playing among them, and neigh tened their brillancy. In the course of an hour the whole Armament assumed the same appalling aspect. A rumbling, or rather rushing noise was heard over our heads, accompanied for short time by an unearthly sound, which superstitious i'm
 agination might easily have fancied to be a chorus of spirits in the air. It was a splendid, but awful and potentious scene. Our captain was perfectly confounded, & after gazing for few moments in silent consternation said in tone of prophetic solemnity, Gentlemen, it is my candid and serene opinion, that this world is com ing to an end" The alarm which I felt myself was of a very different character. l apprehended some sudden tempest or dreadful convulsion of nature; and these apprehensions were increased by a pom drous mass of the blackest clouds ever beheld, which hung over the northern hoe rizon. The barmometer indicated favor able state of the atmosphere, or we should have immediately taken in all sail, and prepared ourselves for the worst. At a. bout II o'clock the bright fiery color and regular radiation gradually disappeared, leaving only tinge of lurid red upon the scattered clouds that hung in the air. But brilliant light now shot up in the north. resembling the Arora Borealis, and not unlike the singular phenomenon which ex- cited so much attention short time ago at New-York It streamed up in paral- Tel lines to the heighth of forty degreess, and during the whole of its appearance light volumes of smoke seemed to be scud- ding furiously before it, o;ncing cu- rious attenuation of light and shade. and so rapid as almost to appear like the faint flashes of lightning. l, was no, long how ever, before the western sky was again on fire, and it retained, with little intermis- sion during the remainder of the night. the same extraordinary features which it first exhibited. 1t was remarkable cir cumstancs that the central point, whence the rays of light seemed to emanate, or the focus. perhaps where they concen- trated, was the darkest point in the heav- ems, the light increased as it approached the horizon. In the earl y par, of the eve- ming, when this strange appearance was first observed, the atmosphere WIS rather hay, though sufficiently clea' f,r lhe stars to be visible. Bl rk, t.emen!ng clouds rested nearly the wh 'le extent of the ho- rizon.
 There were several squalls and showers of rain in the course of the night, during which the preternatural light was for a time obscured; but even when the sky was completely overcast, famt flashes like the reflection of 6uttering and unsteady light were necessarily playing upon the vessel. Though the moon had set at s o. clock, the night was as light as if she had been shining in full splendor. The sun rose next morning with frighlful and un- natural glare, and the whole day was as red as fl it had been died with hood.
 FASHIONABLE PARTIEs.-Tt is with great pleasure that. at the opening of the present fashionable campaign, we learned from high authority, that a revolution was tO take place in the economy of evening entertainments, long and loudly called for ny the experience of the past. It has been heretofore uniform ly remark of all well-bred foreigners. that our sIdebOards and tea-tables were overload. ed with eatabIes and drinkables, to an exces, almost disgusting. Private fortunes have suf: frred considerable dilapidation in administer. ing to the capacities of the visiting public: the health of the fashionable citizens has been materially injured, and we have enjoyed the character of a most ab0minabIe set of gour
 mands. The remarks of eminent foreigners
 the recent return of welI-travelled natives
 with more correct intelligence on the sub. ject the dminutiOn of the sinew by which ] the war of voracity was carried on. and the sermons of the Rev. Dr. Lyman Be-chrr on intemperance. have all cOnspir~d to introduce better order ofthings. Under the auspices of several of our most distinguished natrOns
 series of soires has been commenced, and is l in progress at which no refreshmrnt is offered but lemonade, and some little gateaur. Cream of tartar has been sometimes tried as a sub. stitute for former beverage but has been found ! A k nR lsA.