Virginia Argus

From East India Papers, received at Boston.

Calcutta, Feb. 12.

In our paper of the 18th December, we republished a curious article which appeared in the Times of the 21st June, descriptive of a phenomenon, which had been witnessed by Capt. Hayes of H. M. S. Majestic. The following letter from Com. Hayes to the editor of the Mirror, will be perused with interest as confirming to a certain extent, the extraordinary appearance which was observed at Boston. We have seen several gentlemen, who have also noticed the subject of the Commodore's communication, and who have observed it from Calcutta; and as the public attention is now awakened to this interesting object, there will probably be many philosophical speculations, respecting the cause of this very extraordinary effect.

To the Editors of the Asiatic Mirror.

Mr. Editor--Although I am aware, that the statement of the Phenomena seen in the Sun on the Coast of America, by my namesake Capt. John Hayes, of his Majesty's ship Majestic, has excited much speculation, doubt, and even scepticism amongst our countrymen, I shall notwithstanding venture to commit my observations with those of the gallant officer above-mentioned, or the further consideration of your readers; leaving the solution of the configurations of the said phenomenon over the sun's disk, to the sublime discernment of the sage Faber, or to the penetrating, philosophic mind of the great Herschel. It would be the height of presumption in me to conjecture whether they are exhibited as signs or tokens of the eventful times past, or about to come; or the configuration of those chasms or openings occasionally made through that luminous atmosphere, which surrounds that glorious orb of light, and which have fallen under my humble observation.

To proceed--in joining Capt. Maxfield at the sea entrance of Lacam's Channel, on the morning of the 29th ult., he did me the favor to call me on board the Dundas, & desired Sir William Rumibold, myself, and others, to observe the Sun's disk, as he had discovered thereon during the 22d, which still continued to be seen from the Minto; we accordingly examined the Sun with a telescope, and distinctly discerned the Flags exhibited on the accompanying Figs. 1, and subsequently the other configurations shewn in the Figs. 2, 3, and 4 I have only to add, that after the disappearance of the three Flags A, the succeeding ones inclined to the left of the centre of the Sun's disk, being previously to the right thereof; the whole invariably setting with the Flags uppermost, and rising with them downwards. On the 4th, the single tri-coloured Flag at rising, approximated somewhat nearer to the centre of the Sun's disk, (set as usual) but subsequently more towards its centre; since which period I have not observed the phenomena, owing to the obscuration of the Sun. It is perhaps requisite to add, that the centre Flag A. appeared much lighter than the others, and had a vibrating motion from right to left, half its circle. If I could venture an opinion, I would presume to imagine, that the phenomena in question revolved upon their own axis over the Sun's disk, and performed a complete revolution in the short space of twelve hours.

I remain, Mr. Editor, your friend and well wisher,

JOHN HAYES.

February 5, 1816.

So close is the resemblance of these Phenomena, to the common flagstaff, that a Branch Pilot to whom they were shewn, exclaimed. 'it is just as plain as the flagstaff on Edmonstone's Island when seen from the bottom of Thornhill's Channel,' a distance of eight miles.

Four diagrams accompany the above letter, representing the appearance of the sun at four different periods. They bear the exact appearance of flags, fully displayed by the wind, the length of whose staff is about half the sun's diameter.