B2 



III the list of philosophers who have contributed to create science out of 

 the crude materials furnished by observation, I shall first mention Mr. 

 Redfield. His first paper on the storms of the Atlantic coast appeared in 

 April, 1831, in volume 20 of the American Journal of Science. This 

 paper gives a full account of the hurricane of September, 1821, which was 

 traced from the West India islands northward aloEg the whole line of our 

 coast. It contained also a notice of the storm of August 17, 1830, and two 

 or three other storms of the same year. From a comparison of all the ob- 

 servations, Mr. Redfield derived the conclusion that those storms were 

 great whirlwinds. In 1833 he published the following general proposi- 

 tions, as embodying the results of his investigations: 



1. The severe storms of the Atlantic coast often originate in the tropical 

 latitudes, where they are distinguished by the name o( hurricanes . 



2. These storms cover, at the same moment of time, a surface whose 

 diameter varies from one to five hundred miles, and in some cases they 

 have been much more extensive. They act with diminished violence 

 towards tire exterior, and with increased energy towards the interior. 



3. While south of the parallel of 30° these storms pursue their course 

 towards the west, on a track which inclines gradually to the northward. 

 In the vicinity of latitude 30° their course changes somewhat abruptly to 

 the northward and eastward, and the track continues to incline gradually 

 to the east, towards which point, after leaving the lower latitudes, they ad- 

 vance with an accelerated velocity. The rate of progress may be estimated 

 at from 12 to 30 miles an hour. 



4. The duration of the storm at any place within its track depends upon 

 its extent, and the rate of velocity with which it moves. 



5. The direction of the wind over the greater portion of the track is not 

 the direction of the progress of the storm. 



6. In the lower latitudes, while drifting to the westward^, the direction of 

 the wind at the commencement of these storms is from a northern quarter, 

 usually from northeast to northu^est, and during the latter part of the gale, 

 it blows from a southern quarter of the horizon. 



7. North of the parallel of 30°, and while pursuing their course to the 

 northward and eastward, these storms conmience with the wind from an 

 eastern or southern quarter-, and terminate with the wind from a western 

 quarter. 



8. On the outer portion of the track, they exhibit at their commence- 

 ment a southerly wind, which, as the storm comes 'Over, veers gradually to 

 the westward, in which quarter it terminates. 



9. Along the central portion of the track, the first force of the wind is 

 from the southeast; but after blowing for a certain period, it changes sud- 



