prevalent Disorder s, tyc, "with Volcanic Emanations. 427 



unusually numerous, and thunder storms of a most extraor- 

 dinary kind, through the winter months, have continually 

 occurred. At least 100 churches in Germany, Holland, and 

 adjacent countries, have been destroyed by lightning. Eng- 

 land, also, has experienced the same phenomena. The cold 

 that has occurred in England, and the sudden falls of snow, 

 have also been strikingly severe : but they have been partial 

 in extent, and very limited in duration, and imply, strictly, 

 not that there has been a severe winter (which would be con- 

 trary to the fact), but that electricity has been extensively at 

 work, and, perhaps, that there has been a considerable disen- 

 gagement of ice from the Polar Sea. These partial occur- 

 rences of cold point out, doubtless, the localities where the 

 upper cold strata of air descend to the surface ; but it is evi- 

 dent that such could not descend without a heating of the 

 lower strata. If, then, the meteors are to be answerable for 

 the winter of 1833, how happens it that, in 1834, we have 

 had an excess of effect, and a decrease of cause ? * It is to 

 be replied, that the meteors are themselves only an effect, 

 and, as I conceive, of the same cause as that which produced 

 the other phenomena, the meteors being less magnificent from 

 a different distribution of the producing matter. 



That such notions as these are not conceived without certain 

 facts to justify them, I will now, in conclusion of these remarks, 

 show from occurrences within the present year. 



In this volume (Essay, No. 6., p. 152.) I have incidentally 

 alluded to the tide, gales, and earthquake of January (16 — 20.) 

 1835. On reference to my calendar, I find also that on 29th 

 January there was a furious and destructive gale and tempest 

 in Columbia, followed by gales in Europe from England to 

 Italy, till Feb. 5. ; and that about Jan. 26. a sudden snow storm 

 came on off* the west of Ireland, wrecking the fishing-boats, 

 that were taken by surprise, and depriving 500 persons of 

 life. Now, during this whole period most violent and ruinous 

 volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occurred in Guatemala 

 and Yucatan, the particulars of which are too interesting to 

 be passed over. 



It appears that several volcanoes erupted, one near San 

 Vincent, close to San Salvador, on the Pacific, and others 

 which have not been mentioned; that the convulsions lasted 



* The winter of 1831, when the meteors were also on a small scale, as 

 seen in Ohio, was dreadfully severe in America. See, amongst other do- 

 cuments, Mr. Taylor's account, M. N. H. t vi. 97 — 103., and evidence has 

 been already adduced to show that in October, 1831, the earth was violently 

 convulsed. 



