224 Atmospheric Effects of the Explosion of Gunpowder. 



recollection a train of observations which I had made during 

 almost the whole of the late disastrous war ; the effect of those 

 observations having been such as fully to satisfy me that the 

 atmosphere was very much influenced by the discharge of 

 artillery, &c, in the numerous and mighty battles fought in 

 that war. Indeed, I became so convinced of the certainty 

 with which the atmospheric indications might be relied upon, 

 that I felt quite enabled to say, some days before the news of 

 a battle having taken place had arrived, that an extended 

 battle had been very recently fought, and that the particulars 

 would arrive shortly. I do not remember my conjecture to 

 have been once baffled. I did make some notes upon the 

 subject; and, particularly, put down my declared antici- 

 pations, made at the moment, with the results as to how far 

 they had been realised : but I am sorry to say that I cannot 

 at present find them. 



When it is obvious that, on the firing of even one pound of 

 gunpowder, a very large gaseous volume is evolved, tending 

 to increase the common atmosphere then floating, as well as 

 to agitate it to a considerable distance around or above the 

 immediate site of the explosion, the conjecture to which I 

 have adverted may not appear, even at first sight, a very 

 idle one. 



I do not at present pursue the subject; which really may 

 well admit of very elaborate mathematical investigation, 

 founded upon the tolerably well ascertained mass (if I may 

 use the term) of atmosphere proper to the earth, and upon 

 the more certainly known volume of gases disengaged by the 

 explosion of a given quantity of gunpowder. To the effect to 

 be produced by the mere disengagement of these gases must 

 be added the concussion always resulting from the sudden 

 explosion of gunpowder. 



I think it right to add, that, about fifty-five years ago, I 

 read in a book, at a stall, something to the effect I have men- 

 tioned ; and quite enough to deprive me of the honour due to 

 a first observer of important natural phenomena. The book 

 was a small thin octavo; and, although I have been searching 

 for it half a century, I have been unable to find it. I always 

 thought it was written by Porny, and that its title was, On 

 the Atmosphere; but not any bookseller, nor any catalogue, I 

 have asked or consulted, has afforded me any information 

 upon it. Perhaps some correspondent may be aware of the 

 book ; and will therein see that, if my notion be ill-founded, 

 some one else, at least, had previously imbibed it. 



9. Inner Temple Lane, Feb. 9. 1835. 



