754 [Assembly 



summits, and often receive a direction from these causes. Clouds 

 not unfrequently-, are perceived approaching the valleys, bearii^ig 

 rain and portentous of thiinder and lightning, when in a moment 

 their course is changed, and skimming along the acclivities of the 

 mountains, they pour upon them their contents. Hence, in a dry 

 season like the last, when nature elsewhere is parched and seared, 

 the slopes of these mountains smile in verdant and luxuriant 

 beauty. The movement of these atmospheric streams, witnessed 

 from the valleys embosomed by lofty mountains, are often beau- 

 tiful and sublime exhibitions. • 



A valued correspondent* furnishes me with several highly in- 

 teresting facts, illustrative of this subject. The amphitheater of 

 mountains that nearly surround North Elba, is imperfect on the 

 western side, from whence the plateau spreads far into the interior. 

 Volumes of clouds often advance from that direction, until entering 

 within the influence of these currents, they suddenly divide, the 

 dissevered masses passing to the north and south, along the brows 

 of the respective mountains. He describes a scene of singular 

 grandeur and sublimity, that occured at North Elba in 1847, and 

 Strikingly elucidates this remarkable influence. On a still and sul- 

 try evening of summer, when not a breeze moved the leaf, a dark 

 and heavy bank of clouds, suddenly appeared in the western 

 horizon and gradually approaching, menaced an immediate and 

 violent storm. Whilst gazing upon the advance of the impending 

 tempest, he beheld in a moment the masses rent asunder. One col- 

 umn rushed along the crest of Whiteface, and the other amid 

 pealings of thunder and torrents of rain, careered over the lofty 

 summits of the Adirondacs, whilst in the valley, an installt before 

 threatened by the tornado, all was serene and calm, and the moon 

 and stars beamed softly upon it, through the riven canopy of black 

 and flashing clouds. I introduce these impressive incidents to 

 illustrate the powerful agency which is exerted on the elements, 

 by these lofty pinnacles. 



The winds in the vicinity of Lake Champlain are materiallj 

 modified in their direction by its influence. 



•T. L. Nash. 



