METEOROLOGY. 211 



observed that, as the circle expands, the intensity of the storm dimi- 

 nishes. I f this be an unifonn law, it enables us to account for the appa- 

 rent anomalies noticed by Dr. Franklin, although in a mode different 

 from his own elucidation. He observed that a hurricane from the 

 north-east, which began at New Orleans, did not arrive until some time 

 aftei-wards at Charleston, still later at Philadelphia, and last of all at 

 New York, all apparently in the direction from which the wind blew. 

 Now, it will at once be seen, according to the circular theory of 

 storms, that a hurricane of limited diameter proceeding northward at 

 the usual rate of from ten to twenty miles per hour will, when its 

 western edge touches the east coast of North America, have the wind 

 there at north-east, (for it* should be observed, the invariable direction 

 of the wind round the circle is contrary to the earth's diurnal rota- 

 tion) and that as it progresses, those places which on its western 

 side lie in the direction from whence the wind appears to proceed, 

 will be the last to come within the range of its influence. Now a 

 certain uniformity prevails in this island in cases of violent stonns 

 which seems to denote the operation of the foregoing, or an analo- 

 gous law : for instance, when a falling barometer indicates the pre- 

 dominance of a south or south-west atmospheric current, followed by 

 wind and rain, we invariably find that the next change of wind (and 

 which, by the way, occurs more or less speedily, as the gale may be 

 violent or moderate) is to the west or north-west ; and in no case 

 under the circumstances just named, does the first veering of the 

 wind be to the east. We may then conceive a whirlwind, and 

 generally, in our latitude, one of large cii'cumference, whose eastern 

 side, as the whirlwind progresses to the north-east, affects this country ; 

 its first current will evidently be a wind from the south or south- 

 west, which as it progresses northward will leave the wind west or 

 north-west. Again, if the western side of the circumference of the 

 stonn impinge upon this island, a gale will suddenly rise from the 

 north-east, followed, as it progresses in its course, by the wind at 

 north-west. Those who have particularly noticed such phenomena 

 will recognise this as generally accordant with observed facts. Still, 

 generalizations in meteorological science where so much seems con- 

 fused and obscure, are not with undue haste to be indulged in. 



Whilst we deny that the planets possess any direct influence over 

 the weather, it will be proper to consider that modifi :ation which 



