274 Of the J finds in the Regioji between the 



but during the uncommonly mild winter of 1801 — 2, there 

 was a ftrong confirmation of it. 



On the 21 ft, 22cl, and 23d of February 1802, there was 

 one of the moft remarkable and long-continued fnow-florms 

 that had been known for twenty years. It raged with ex- 

 treme violence on the land, and was the caufe of feveral fhip- 

 wrecks along the fea-coaft. Many lives and much property 

 were loft. The movements in the atmofphere were felt firfl 

 to the fouthward, and gradually progrefled northward, fo as 

 to be fenfible there ; but not until after fome hours. 



The facts were collected by Dr. Mitehill, at Washington, 

 the feat of the national government, during the feffion of 

 congrefs, when they could be afcertained with the greateft 

 expedition, correclnefs, and care, and are as follow : 



After a fine, warm, and clear morning, the air toward 

 evening grew cloudv, and it became rainy and ftormy. The 

 time of its commencement near the capitol, on the banks of 

 the Potomack, as obferved by general Smith, was about half 

 an hour paft five in the afternoon ; and before eight the rain 

 was exceffive, and the wind boifterous. Here the weather did 

 not become cold enough for fnow until towards morning. 



The city of New- York, which is fituated rather more than 

 240 miles to the north-eaft, did not feel this commotion of 

 the atmofphere until about eleven. Then the city watchmen 

 obferved that the weather was changed from clear to cloudy, 

 and that fnow began to fall ; and at twelve Mrs. Mitehill, 

 who opened a window and looked out, obferved that the 

 ground was already white with fnow. The temped was 

 brewing, and, properly fpeaking, was formed at two. 



That night Mr. Humphrey Wood was on board a floop 

 bound from Newport (R. I.) to New-York. The tempeft 

 drove the vcftel afliore before morning on Mount Mifery 

 Neck, upon Long Tfland. They failed from Fifher's Iflanct, 

 where they had been waiting for a fair wind, at ten o'clock 

 at night, with a wind at eaft-fouth-eaft, and warm and plea- 

 fant weather. But by midnight it hauled eaft-north-eaft, 

 and blew a gale, with fnow. Fifher's Ifland may be com- 

 puted to be about 140 miles eaft-north-eaft of New- York. 



Mr. Webfter obferved fome of the phenomena of this 

 change of weather, in its beginning, at New-Haven. This 

 place is 89 miles from New-York, or 331 from Wafliington. 

 Here the weather was clear in the early part of the evening, 

 but was overcaft by nine. The ftormy commotion of the 

 atmofphere feems to have begun about twelve. At Bottom 

 it was rather more than an hour later. 



Mr. Blair, an oilieer who was on board one of three mips 

 j from 



