The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-19


ton OF total eclipse OF the given 10 HALEY by
OF his friends quoted by the great French astronomer
Aaxo aad presents extraordinary appearances OF Nature
different from those previously accredited
II send you. according to PROMISE my observations
~ %ueh use 10 yoS Not being furnished with the
sary instruments for measuring tme confined my views
to the spectacle presented by Nature-a spectacle winch
has hitherto been neglected or imperiectly sadied.
chose for my point OF observation place called hara
dow Hill, miles from Amesbury. and east OF 'ne
avenue OF Stonehenge, OF which il closes the vstan
front Of that celebrated edifce upon which knew that
the eclipse would be bisected had. moreover the ad-
vantage Of very extensive prospect IN every direcpn.
being on the lofest hill in the neghborhood, and that
another rather steep hill rising like the summit Of cone
above the horizon This clay hill adjoining Westmin,
ster, ( is situated the central line OF darkness
natives OF the couairy, and able men The sky though
overcast gave out some struggling rays OF the sun mat
enabled me to around us. My two companions
some reconnaissance Of the country was half ye
o'clock by my watch when they informed me that The
eclipse had begun. We watched It's progress therefore,
with the naked eye as the clouds performed Tor US me
service OF colored glasses. AT the moment when the
sun was half obscured, very evident circular rainbow
formed its circumference with perfect colors as me
Fastening to their focks for they expected total eclipse
Of an hour and quarter Duration When the sun as.
sumed the appearance OF the new moon the SKY was
toerably clear II covered with deeper Clouds
The rainbow then vanished The steep hill have named
became very obscure, and on each side-that is, north
and south-the horizon exhibited blue tint that II pos
had we time 10 ten when Salisbury spre, ak miles
to the SOUTH was enveloped in darkness. The hill!
disappeared entirely and the deepest night spread around
u.s. We lost sight OF the SUM- whose place I'LL then we
had been able 10 distinguish in the clouds, but whose
trace we could now no discover than il It had
never existed. By my watch. which could scarcely
discern by some light that reached from the NORTH II
was thirty five minutes past six Shortly before, the sky
a I'D the earth had assumed literally speaking "a livd
tint for was mixture OF black and blue, only the latter
was also much black dused through The clouds, so that
the whole picture presented awful aspect that seemed
to announce the death OF Nature We were now enveoped
in total and palpable darkness may be allowed the
expression Ii came rapidly. but watched 50 aten-
lively that could perceive its progress II came upon
US like rain falling left shoulders, 1--WE were looking
the west) like great black cloak thrown around
u.s. or like curtain drawn from that side. The horses
we held by the bride seemed deeply struck by it, and
pressed to with marks OF extreme surprise AS well
could perceive, the c0untenances OF my friends wore
horrible aspect 1t not without an involuntary ex-
clamation OF wonder looked round me at this moment
distinguished colors in the sum- but the earth had lost all
its blue and was entirely black few rays shot through
the clouds for moment but Immediately afterwards the
earth and the sky appeared totally black II the most
awful sight had ever beheld in my life. Northwest OF
The point whence the eclipse came on II was impossible
for me 10 distinguish in the least degree the earth from
the sky, for breadth of sixty degrees or more We
look ed in vain for the OF Amesbury situated below
US; scarcely could see the ground under our feet
turned frequently during the total darkness and observed
,hat at Considerable distance 10 the the horizon
perfect both sides that s to the north and TO the
south the earth black AMI the lower part OF The sky
clear The obscurity which extended to the horizon IN
those points seemed like canopy over our heads adorn
ed with figures OF lighter color 80 that the upper edges
of all the hills which recognised perfectly by their out
lines formed black line. perfectly that the inter.
val between light and darkness observable IN the EARTH
between Martinso ~ and ST Anne; but to the south
it less distinctly marked.
a" do not cay that the line OF shadow passed
through these two hills which were twelve miles distant
from us; but as far as l could distinguish the horizon
there was none behind and for this reason my elevated
position enabled me the light OF the sky beyond the
shadow still that yellowish green line OF light saw was
broader towards the north than towards the SOUTH where
ii OF a color AT this period was too black be-
hind us--tha is TO the east looking towards LondoD-to
enable me the hills beyond Andover for the ine-
rior extremity Of The shadow lay beyond that place The
horizon was then divided into four parts, differing in
ten, in light and in darkness The broadest and most
black TO the northwest The only change could
perceive during the whole time the phenomenon lasted
the other obscure The northern hemisphere then &C
CURED length Brightness and breadth, and the two
opposite parts coalesced Like the shadow in the begin
ming OF eclipse, the light approached from the north
and fell right shoulders could not indeed. dis
tngush that side either defined light or shadow the
earth, which watched aitentively; but il was evident
that the light returned bat gradually and with oscillation
II receded little, advanced rapidly until at last, at the
frs, brilliant point that appeared in the sky, saw plainly
enough edge of light that grazed our sides for con-
siderable time, brushed elbows from west TO east
Having good reason, therefore, to suppose the eclipse
ended for u.s. looked at my watch, and found that The
hand had raversed three minutes and half The hill
tops then resumed their natural color saw the horizon
at the point previously occupied by the centre of the
shadow. My companions cried out that they again saw
the steep bill toward which they had been looking atten
lively Ii STILL indeed remained black 10 the southeast,
but will not say that the horizon difficult TO dis
cover Presently heard the song OF the arks hailng
the return OF light after the profound and universal silence
in which everything had been plunged The earth and
sky appeared then they do in the morning before
rise. The latter of graysh TINT ncnng TO blue.
The former far as my eye could reach was deep green
or russell.
"A. soon as the sun appeared the clouds grew denser
and for several minutes the light did not increase Just
happens cloudy sunrise The instant the eclipse be-
but no other stars We perceived at this moment the
rpre OF Salisbury cathedral The clouds no, Dispensing
could not push observations further They cleared
up, however, considerably toward evening.
81 have hastened home TO write this letter So deep
impression has the spectacle made my mind that shall
much precision now After supper made sketch OF
il from memory on the same paper on which had pre-
viou.ly drawn view OF the country.
81 will own 10 you was methinks, The only person
in England who did not regret the presence OF clouds
they added much to the soemnliy OF the srectacle-n
which saw perfectly from the top OF the bellry Of Bos
lon, in Lincolnshire, where the sky was very clear.
There, indeed saw the two sides OF The shadow coming
from afar and passing to great distance behind u.s. but
This eclipse exhibited great variety, and was awfully
imposing, so that cannot but congratulate myself on
having had opportunities OF seeing under such different
circumstances, these two accidents OF Nature"
GREAT FLOOD IN WisCoHsS.-Our town this morning
presents distressing appearance Last night al IL
o'clock The water commenced running through the town.
sweeping in lie course wagons, cows dogs hen.coops