450 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena ; 



some opposing electricity from the earth, which prevented the 

 ordinary effects of the atmosphere, or in some way modified or 

 altered the ordinary electricity of the clouds. The earth, 

 at this time, was certainly greatly agitated. The province 

 of Chili was desolated, on Feb. 20., by an earthquake, which 

 destroyed all the towns and villages within a circuit of 200 

 miles, including Talpa and Conception, the sea rising 33 ft. 

 above its usual level. (See, amongst others, extracts from 

 letters in the Globe of July 6.) About this time, or rather 

 before, Groenloer, in Java, was in violent eruption, attended 

 by inundations and other remarkable phenomena (Journal 

 de la Haye); and from November to March, including the 

 periods of both these events, such a drought existed in 

 New South Wales, that vegetation ceased: the vines and 

 trees were destroyed ; the rivers dried up ; lakes became 

 nearly dry ; and the downs took fire. (Sidney Papers.) It 

 may be objected that this occurred in the southern hemi- 

 sphere ; but the evidence is good, nevertheless, since the earth 

 was actually in agitation from Chili to the West Indies, 

 between Jan. 22. and Feb 20. ; and, for anything known to 

 the contrary, the effects may have, from these agitations, ex- 

 tended still further north, even if they be not indices of a 

 general commotion. One little fact must be here mentioned. 

 About Rye and Hastings there has been no considerable 

 quantity of rain since Feb. 1833. Romney Marsh is in a state 

 of absolute ruin. Now, it has been observed, that, during this 

 period, there have been immense " shows for rain ;" but the 

 clouds no sooner have advanced over the droughty district, 

 than their character has changed, and they have been driven 

 away without discharging a single drop. — July 10. 1835. 



[Corrections required in previous Contributions by Mr. 

 Clarke.'] — In Vol. VI. p. 461. line 7. for "Rhine," read 

 " Rhone."— In Vol. VII. p. 294. line 29. for " evening," read 

 " morning ; " p. 627. line 4. from bottom, for " the Carib sea," 

 read " a wide tract of sea and land." — In Vol. VIII. p. 143. 

 line 31. for " del due," read "delledue;" p. 152. line 6. 

 from bottom, for " 19th," read " 12th;" p. 156. line 21. 

 after "on," read "end;" p. 158. line 9. from bottom, for 

 " danso," read "dancing ; " p. 225. line 9. for " Rhine," read 

 " Rhone " 



[The following communication, by Mr. Brown of Thun, is 

 that alluded to by Mr. Clarke in p. 428. note f, to whom we 

 had submitted it, that he might place it in its point of fullest 

 relevance to his views ; and we cannot apprehend Mr. Brown's 

 disapproving of the liberty we have taken.] 



