The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-02-14
AuaoaA BoaEALrs phenomenon may be de-


AuaoaA BonEALIs.-This phenomenon may be de-
fined an extraordinary luminous appearance, showing
itself IN the night time, IN northern ATTITUDES, whence
it has got It's name, Norhsrn-lights. Or among the
common people Steamers or merry dances.
These lights are of two kinds viz the Tranquil and
the varying. The Tranquil shines with mild and
steady light, resembling the appearance OF twlhght
and has been seen IN high southern lahtudes, as we'll
as in our hemisphere.
The parying Aurora is still more remarkable in its
appearance and occasionally exhibits the more bril-
liant and rapidly diversified forms; as was witnessed
the night of the 18th oil January last IN most re-
splendan beauty.
In high northern latudes as in Sweden Llpand,
Hudsons Bay the aurora Borealis, sngularly re-
splendent and occasionally terrific They frequently
occupy the whole of the heavens; and according to
Maupertes, Middleton, and Kra eclipse the spendor
of the stars and moon.
In the northeastern dstrctso Of Siberia according
Dr. Blagden they frequently cover the whole face Of
the heavens like tent giering with gold rubies and
sapphire. more beautiful spectacle cannot be paint
ed. But it is said, whoever should see such phe-
nomenon, fer the first time, could not behold It with
out terror; it being accompanied with kissing,
cracking, and rushing noise through the air. as if the
largest fireworks were playing off.
Respecting the cause of this beautiful phenomenon
much has been written. When the science Of Meteor0-
logy was in more imperfect state the Aurora Borealis
was ascrbed to sulphurous yapors exhaled from the
bowels of the earth, and rising into the air and Mus
chenhrock, and others, have been at some pains TO
punt certain cneInlcdl mixtures winch Senu
Phosphorescent stream, or vapor resembling these
lights. 1t was an hypothesis Of DR.. HALEY, that the
earth is hollow sphere and he supposed that there
IS constant circulation Of the magnetic fluid from the
north to the south POLE Ithas, however, never been
shown that magnetic effiuva can produce light. The
celebrated Acadcmician M. de Maivan has ascribed
this phenomenon TO the impulse of zodiaca light upon
the atmosphere of the earth. He says that inasmuch
the equatorial regions have greater centrifugal form
than the POLAR on account OF their greater velocity
during the earth's diurna rotation; the luminous par
tcles of the zodaca light must be driven by tzs
trfugal fsrce from the equator towards the poles
which will then produce what we call the Aurora
Boreals.
Euler, however, gives this theory the quietus, while
unsenable, and which is very brilliant specimen of
the philosophical acumen of this celebrated mathe
raatican.
As soon as the phenomena of electricity and the
laws by which they are governed were toerably un-
dersood philosophers naturally had recourse to an
agent affording in thsr estimation satisfactory ex
PLANTATION. of the Aurora Boreals. The brilliancy of
its light, the rapidy Gifts notions and the nstan a
neous changes of form which it underwent, seemed
plainly to point TO this powerful element the
OF these striking phenomena. An English chemist
and philosopher and Doctor Franklin had shown
that the electrical fluid assumes the appearance of the
Aurora Borealis, when it passes through vacuum or
highly ran6ed atmosphere.
If glass tube resembling a florence flask in size
and shape exhausted of air and be then excited by
friction it will appear filled with pale light resem
bling the Aurora Boreas which will 60 and come at
intervals sending forth brilliant flashes exactly as
this .leteor does in the northern sky. Mr. Cantor
also contrived to exhibit imitation Of the Aurora
Boreas, by means of electricity transmitted through
wha; is known by the Torrcelian vacuum formed in
glass tube about three feet long, and Theoretically
sealed. One end of the tube being held in the hand
and another applied 10 electrical machine, the
whole tube will be Illuminated and will continue so
for some time.
With respect TO the variations of color which we per-
ceve in the Aurora Boreas they are to be ascrbed to
fhe fdpurp nf IF f1rft
same electricity which appears white in very rare
medium becomes blue, purple, or red in a medium of
increased density, / fully verified by experiments
many years ago, at the Medical College IN Barclay
street.
Let an electrical machine and an air pump be so
disposed that while the machine is worked success
sion OF strong sparks shall be communicated from the
prime conductor to metallic knob attached TO the top
of the receiver of the air pump. LIT now the ex-
haustion of the receiver proceed, and shall
perceive the electrical fluid force itself through the
Pandng ar within In stream that at first OF deep
purple color but the exhaustion advances il chan
ges blue, and at length to intense iofe, with
which the whole receiver becomes completely filled.
Thus these experiments would appear TO establish
in most minds the identity of the Aurora Boreals
with electric light; and as collateral proofs Of this
identity, the atmosphere s found by the ceclronome
ter to abound with electricity during the display Of
the Aurora in the heavens that the Aurora when
strong is accompanied with the same whlZzlng and
cracking sound electricity, and that the magnetic
needless disturbed by the Aurora well by the
ton of the electrical machine, by the natural cleo
-tricity OF q thunder storm. L have lust finished
sheet, and WILL therefore, reserve my own theory,
new one for my next communication.
NovUM ORGASuM.
HroHLy IMPORTANT IsvENTIoS.-Elecfro Mag
.eiic Engine.-In company with DR.. Steel and sew
eral other gentlemen, we called upon Mcssrs. Daven-
port and Cook, Of this village on Saturday, with
view of examining the Electro Magnetic Engine, in
vented by the senior partner.
The ingenuity, yet simplicity Of its construction, the
rapdy of its notion together with the grandeur OF the
thought that Witnessing the operations OF ma
chnery propelled by that subtle and all pervading
principle electricity, combine to render t the most in
serestng exhibition we have witnessed.
Although we shall say something on the subject, it
is perhaps impossible TO describe this machine by
words alone, to give moro than faint idea Of
10 the reader.
IL consists Of stationary magnetic circle, formed
ofdsconnectcd segmens. These segmenis per-
mancnty charged magnets, the repelling poles Of
which are placed contiguous TO each other. Within
the circle stands the motive wheel having the project
ing galvanc magnets which rcvole as near the circle
MS they can be brought without actual contact The
galvanic magaots are charged by battery, and when
so charged, magnetic attraction and repusion are
brought into requisuon, in giving motion to the wheel
the poles of the galvanic magnets being changed
NOR. than thousand times per minute
Having in its construction bat one wheel revolving
with no iricon excrpt from its own shaft and f,n,