Principles on which Clouds are suspended, 24«7 



Art. VI. Some Discussion on the Principles on which Clouds are 

 suspended, with a Recommendation, that those tvho pursue Mete- 

 orology do so cooperatively. By Mr. W. H. White. 



As clouds may be reckoned among the most picturesque, 

 pleasing, and useful phenomena of nature, it is somewhat 

 strange that meteorologists have not paid more attention to 

 the contemplation of them, as they, whether rolled into 

 enormous masses, and piled upon each other, exhibiting 

 the shapes of mountains, with summits as white as snow, and 

 valleys, whose openings are distinguished by shades of pur-" 

 pie and vermilion (appearances very common in tropical 

 climes # ), or viewed in their ever various and lovely cha* 

 racters, — 



" Where, 'midst the changeful scenery, ever new, 

 Fancy a thousand wondrous forms descries, 

 More wildly great than ever pencil drew j 

 Rocks, torrents, gulfs, and shapes of giant size, 

 And glittering cliffs on cliffs, and fiery ramparts rise ; " 



Beattie's Minstrel. 



are fit subjects for philosophical investigation, and must be 

 admired, by every contemplative mind, for their beauty, and 

 for their endless combinations. What is now luminous will, 

 in a few moments, become coloured; what is coloured will 

 soon mingle into shade ; or form the most beautiful and pic- 

 turesque representations of islands, towns, bridges, arches, 

 ruins, huge rocks, and gigantic mountains. 



If, then, clouds are subjects of such great interest, an en- 

 quiry into the cause of their suspension in the atmosphere, I 

 consider, will not be uninteresting to your meteorological 

 readers; especially if the few ideas I shall advance should 

 lead to further and more satisfactory enquiries on the subject : 

 for I consider this department of meteorological science to be 

 greatly neglected. This subject has engaged my attention 

 for some time past. I have sought for an explanation of this 

 beautiful phenomenon among the works of our best meteo- 

 rologists; but I have found nothing satisfactory. The con^ 

 jectures (for all the opinions I have met with, in the course of 

 my reading on this subject, are mere conjectures) I have seen 

 thrown out on the subject are not only very crude, but very 



[ * A remark by the late Rev. Lansdown Guilding relative to a notice 

 in II. 297. — In a bright tropical sunset, the sun's rays will often tinge with 

 green a considerable portion of the west. This unusual colour, associated 

 with violet and golden hues, adds much to the gorgeous splendour of a 

 scene which nothing earthly can equal. — L. Guilding. St, Vincent, May 1. 

 1830.] 



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