23–29 January 1837

This evening the heavens afford us the most remarkable spectacle of Aurora Borealis. A deep red plume in the East and West streaming almost from the horizon to the zenith, forming at the zenith a sublime coronet ; the stars peep delicately through the ruddy folds, and the whole landscape below covered with snow is crimsoned. The light meantime equal nearly to that of full moon, although the moon was not risen.