Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-02
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

decided change in the weather: thaving become
much cooler.
On Sunday night between and o'clock,
there appeared one Of the most magnificent dis
rlays Of the Aurora BcrcaliS ever witnessed
probably in this latitude Its chief concentra'
tons of brilliant reddish light were little 10
the North of West. and little to the South OF
Fast. varying, however. its changes, few de-
grceS from one point 10 the other; and meeting
in palcr hines at the zenith over hcad, while the
whole Northern sky. FROM the base Of the hori-
ION 10 near the zenith, was one vast illumina-
ton uf sivery brightness. This luminous al
mosphcric phenomenon, it appears. has been
seen over a vast tract Of country. Its intcE>i-
ty, in an electrical point of view, was most re-
markabic. At Montreal, il took partial, anu at
times, complete possession of the tcic.ra, hic
wires, and greatly delayed the transmission Of
of the steamer Indian, news from Farther
Point. 1t also seriously effected the telegraph
wires radiatin. in all directions from This city.
and materially intcriercd with the transmission
Of messages over lines which were in use ,lii-
ring Sunday night From the elevation which
the Aurora reached in this latitude. there
is 10 doubt but lis shifting and varying
flashes were seen for Il great distance to the
Southwark. and probably in Havana and on the
shores Of the Gulf of Mexico. No doubt tina,
during the remarkable display which was felt
on the Montreal telegraph wires from S p. VI.
TO o'clock p NJ, scientific men were on the
alert, examining lis influence on magnetic nee
dies GalycnomctcrS, Nc, in connection with
the state Of tl.c thermometer and barometer,
and that they will soon give the results to
the public. We have heard it stated that Il
dcica,clv poised needle owned by a gentleman
in this city gave signs Of 4 considerable pr
turbation during the existence Of the Aurora.
The barometer also rose during the time. while
the thermometer indicated q decreasing tempe
nature
There now remains no doubt Int the Auro-
ras are electrical in their origin. And il We
were asked to form theory for their orcur-
renee we would saw. that they originated from
electricity passing from one stratum o! air 10
another in opposite states Of electricity. y
change of temperature from warmth to coo!-
ness always prrcedcS. or Immediately follows
their occurrence Our theory, then, is that 4
cold and heavy stream Of ar is set 10 notion
Southcrlv, near the carth'S surface While Il
lighter stratum Of air, is moving above II in IN
opposite direction. The higher and warmer
stratum of air, we assume VIII with regard 10
the stratum Lcacath contain more electricity
or he ,,,stirC. while the latter will br mega
tive. Hence, discharges in diiiisc sheets may
take place from one 10 the other. rs the
equilibrium is restored in one Part Of the hca-
vcas. the light fades oui at that spot, and AS
suddenly darts forth ut another where an me
quality exists, and 50 on, until til" electrical
conditions of the great strata o! the atmns-
phrre become cqIalIzcd.
The effect Of the :,rial flashes Of cleo
tricitv, >ccn in the aurora, are precisely
the same, on Telegraph wires, rs these pro
dlccd 10y the passage of Il thun'icr storm
In each cast j, atmospheric electricity seeking
an cuuilihrium. la other words, the electricity
Of the Aurora is the Lightning Developed n
dilIi,sed sheets, in 4 clear sky without clouds,
while in Il thunder storm it is rendered more
concentrated and energetic by accumulation III
,br vast masses of yapor which roll through
thc mir positivelv electrified in regard TO the
earth. Though. even, rs they progress for
ward, discharge; take place from one stratum
Of mir TO another, and FROM one cloud To
another, Clouds, generally, do no; have all
elevation of more than about live miles while
the height OF the air which surrounds the
earth, is estimated to be icrty-iivr Mills.
Hence. the elevation of Auror,a! light i seen
n, a much greater altiiulc than clouds ever
reach.
We find ourselves philosop'rzinS. io'r
readers must take our theory lnr what II Is
worth We are ready TO receive any otEcr
that is more plausible AMI better supported hy
facts.
Oll people OF tie co',..;ry -: ;,.4tar Anrora
por,cnlS = change If weather Oar theory Is
that il il exchange of weather that Is oi tenn
pcrature, &cl which produces thc aurora.
This month. or September. is always marked
in this State as that of political conventions. -
We are TO have three. followin. each other, III
succession before Octobrr-vlz: The Demo
cratic State Convention. :" constituted n> to
send soft shell lot Of packed delegates 10 the
Charleston Convention. 2d. The Seward Black
Pcpublican Convention, - constituted ~ To
ensure the election of Seward delegates I" their
nonina,in. Convention for President and Vice
President. And. 3rd The wNothins Con
vention, which meets in the latter part OF the
month at Utica, with the view, il * believed, OF
selling out their forces 10 the scwar'.iteS Tor
the hest price they can get. -.
II * fixed fact, that Seward AMI his allies
cannot carry the State election this tall with
on; them To give Sewar'! the State their votes
must bc had at every hazard. whether Gid
d;nos mr. others demand Know Nothingism OF
! not.
The dark lantern fraternity know the in''i>-
ncnsablc requirements Of the blacks, and Will
demand HIGH price for their support. They
will insist TINT the blacks shall give them inc
majority Of State officers, including the most
lucrative among them; and also an equal
share Of the judicial officers and "t the city
patronage. Hitherto the Republicans have, al
ter taking Know. Nothing leaders II? unto n
high mountain such as the Cat>kil aad. Ike
the Devil promi>cd them vast acrcS>ior,S OF
mower and wealth, if they would fail down and
worshp them; but, dcvl-likc, after >uhlcctn.
them to their will have uniformly turned their
backs upon them. and left them hopclc>sly in
the lurch The Know NothingS are now like
phoraoh's lean kline, poor and hungry, and are
forced TO enter the market. They know. too,
that they have customer in the Black Ecpnb-
lcans who mus; buy them, or also perish.
Hence this time. they intend TO demand high
price, and compel thc purchaser TO make such
hedges and give such substantial collateral 81
curity in advance, as would compel even Satan
himself to fulfil his bargain. Bat, il Know
Nothing, are exact;ne, Weed & Go. are cunning
and full of devices and no Regency. foreign
or domestic, knows better how TO make The
most of bad bargain. or how 10 cNtrica'c
| themselves from it, Obligations, than the Sew
ard concern mt Albany. Were the soft-Shcll
influence of the so.callcd Democratic Regency
ut Albany and of Tammany Hall in New York,
on, of the way, there would be no great diff
Guilty in the Democrats CARRYING the State this
fall: and. however much betrayed and disor-
ganized the party may he by the intrignc> Of
its false friends, nothing but the hearty union.
and thorough incorporation Of the Know.No.
things ana Republicans can prevent complete
success. So strong are the principles of Ma
tional Democracy stripped Of the barnaclcs,
parasites and .Iudascs, that cling on to 1t for
selfish and reasonable purposes, ii would he
found in future, as in times past. to overcome
all nl,sinrlcs and To- nNclrnlc all other nart,>