283 M. De la Rive on the Formation of Hail. 



prize continued unadjudicated, and from that time, we believe, 

 the subject has been entirely withdrawn. 



It is under these circumstances that M. Lecoq, without aim- 

 ing at the prize, appears to have complied, if not with all, yet, 

 doubtless, with the most difficult of the required conditions ; 

 inasmuch as he has produced observations which were made 

 in the very regions in which the hail was formed, and which 

 besides, as we shall presently see, are abundantly calculated to 

 throw light upon the theory of the phenomenon, and especially 

 to demonstrate by facts the truth of the objections previously 

 oifered against the theory of Volta. We shall now allow M. 

 Lecoq to speak for himself, and shall then conclude this article 

 by some considerations on the phenomena of Hail, as influenced 

 by electricity. 



The year 1835 was quite remarkable for the number and in- 

 tensity of the storms which prevailed in the south and middle 

 of France. Electrical clouds rested permanently above the high 

 mountains of Auvergne, and if sometimes the heat of the sun 

 succeeded in dissolving them, it was only for a few hours, and 

 very rarely for a whole day. The clouds accumulated with ra- 

 pidity, the thunder rolled in the distance, a tempest announced 

 the storm, and the rains descended in torrents. Violent hail- 

 showers had already destroyed the harvest in the district of the 

 Puy-de-Dome, and every day brought with it fresh disasters. 



On the 28th of July the sun rose from an azure sky, no cloud 

 appeared on the horizon, no vapour floated in the atmosphere, 

 so that a beautiful day was anticipated. At 10 a. m, the heat 

 became intense, and at mid-day it was almost intolerable, and 

 then some thin flakes of vapour floated in the air at a great dis- 

 tance ; the wind was north, but so feeble, that it in no degree 

 tempered the heat. At one o'clock the wind had increased ; the 

 white and floating clouds had descended considerably, and half 

 an hour later, covered a great part of the horizon ; they had a 

 greyish tint, which became darker and darker, till they were near- 

 ly quite black . At two o'clock they formed an immense covering 

 over the whole of Auvergne ; and it was then easy to anticipate 

 that a frightful storm was at hand. We waited with anxiety 

 for the issue of that majestic and terrible scene which was pre- 

 paring. Silence and consternation everywhere reigned, speedi- 



