Mr.TrouoLor.v. 8-5 



ant as well as to the philosopher ; to the coininunity at large, as well as 

 to those, who are endeavoring to discover the laws by which the male- 

 rial world is governed. 



To the former, it is invested with no ordinary interest, hecanse it is 

 one of those grand stages in the annual round of change of season, 

 which is connected with mucli physical, and, it may be added, much 

 mental enjoyment. At that period, the lirst winds, immediately succeed- 

 ing the autumnal Equinox, have swept by, and a season of comparative 

 quiet has succeeded. The frosts have put a check to vegetation, and 

 exposed to us '"the sear and yellow leaf" The external world has sunk 

 into temporary repose. The air is calm and balmy, and the sun shines 

 with a mild and subdued light. The huntsman goes forth rejoicing in 

 his sports, the laborer is cheerful amid his toils, and a thousand hearts 

 are the liomes of real pleasure. 



To the latter, who, equally with others, enjoy the invigoration of 

 body, and exhilaration of spirits, which it is calculated to bring with it, 

 it is likewise invested with peculiar interest, because they look upon it 

 as a great fact in the world of nature, claiming their attention — as a 

 most striking phenomenon inviting their investigation, and demanding of 

 them the discovery of its physical cause. This cause it is designed, if 

 possible, to assign, after the facts respecting the phenomenon in ques- 

 tion shall have been more fully stated. The explanation which will bo 

 attempted, though it may not satisfy all, it is hoped will not be without 

 some appearance at least of plausibility. It is bused, as it will througli- 

 out appear, upon the common and well known facts of Meteorolog}^ 



2. Is this season peculiar., or is it the only one of the kind occurring 

 during the year ? 



The prevailing opinion is, that the state of the weather and the ap- 

 pearance of the sky, which characterize the "Indian Summer," are pecu- 

 liar, and that their like is not to be found or even thought of at any oth- 

 er period. But even a cursory comparison of the various conditions of 

 the atmosphere will convince any person, that the ''Indian Summer" is 

 but one of a whole class of .simihir phenomena occurring at various 

 times during tlie year. It is in general more distinctly marked, by tiie 

 greater regularity of its occurrence, by the length of its duration.^ and 

 Ijy the degree of obscxu-ity produced in the sky by its accompanying 

 liaze or smoke, than others of a similar character. These are the cir- 

 i;umstances, which have forced it upon the attention of the community, 

 and have exalted it to such a pre-eminence, as to make it appear as tho' 

 it stood alone of its kind in the whole circle of the year. But there arc 

 "I hens, though not in general as well characterized as this, which bcloiior 



