MR MILNE ON A REMARKABLE OSCILLATION OF THE SEA. 



627 



barometer was somewhat casual, but affirms, that there could be no doubt as to 

 the great variation." 



Dr HARWOOD of Sheffield wrote to me that the extreme severity of the storm 

 lasted only four minutes, in which short interval a noble range of conservatories 

 was destroyed ; but a field of corn 25 or 30 yards from them was uninjured. 



From the Sheffield newspapers I gleaned the following additional particulars. 

 The barometer was sinking during all the afternoon. During the day, the wind 

 had been generally from the NE. Immediately previous to the hurricane, there 



was a dead and sultry calm. From 5 h 30' P.M. to 6 h 30' P.M. the thunder con- 







tinued without intermission. About 6 P.M. the sky was overcast by clouds from 

 the SW., and the blackness continued to increase for a quarter of an hour. The 

 storm commenced with rain, which was quickly followed by a most impetuous 

 wind, driving before it volleys of bullets of hard clear ice the size of small 

 marbles. In Botanic Garden 5700 panes of glass, and in another garden 10,000 

 panes, were broken by hailstones. 



Wentworth, West Riding of Yorkshire (eight miles north of Sheffield). During 

 the afternoon the day had been intensely hot, with a gentle southerly breeze. 

 There were a few fleecy clouds floating about, and occasionally some drops of rain 

 fell. About 4 h 30' P.M. there was distant thunder. From this. time till 6 h 30' P.M. 

 it continued to thunder, when the storm suddenly commenced, and lasted more 

 than half an hour. The lightning was one continued flame, accompanied with 

 gusts of wind. From 9 to 10 P.M., the lightning from N. to S., above a dense 

 cloud on the visible horizon, was seen darting to and fro with amazing rapidity, 

 and highly illuminating the atmosphere with every shade of orange colour. 



Norton. About 3 P.M. thunder was heard in the distance. It gradually 

 came nearer till about 6 P.M. Dark clouds approached from the SW. Shortly 

 after, rain and hail fell in torrents, and the wind blew violently for a few minutes. 

 The hailstones were as large as marbles. 



Birmingham. The height of the barometer and thermometer, the force and 

 direction of the wind, are shewn in the following Table, furnished to me by Mr 

 OSLER. The greatest force of the wind was at 5 h 15' P.M. 



