54- dunbar's remarks on the 



counted for? It is generally believed by philosophers, that 

 hurricanes and perhaps the gentlest zephyrs are connected 

 with electrical phamomina, may we then be permitted to sup- 

 pose that by the violent operation of natural agents (of which 

 we can form no conception) the electric fluid has been in a 

 manner abstracted from the central parts of the hurricane 

 (which we may consider as a vortex) and a species of vacuum 

 formed with respect to the electric fluid — hence that otherwise 

 unaccountable relaxation and dejection of spirits, similar to 

 (though infinitely exceeding) what has been observed of the 

 influence of the sirocco wind in Naples and Sicily upon the 

 human body and mind, no perceptible signs of electricity be- 

 ing discoverable in the atmosphere during the time of its 

 blowing. — Happily the wind was arrested but for a short time, 

 by this horrid state of suspence, for in 5 or 6 minutes, perhaps 

 less, the hurricane began to blow from the opposite point of 

 the compass and very speedily regained a degree of fury and 

 impetuosity equal if not superior to what it had before posses- 

 sed. Floating bodies, which had been driven up the stream 

 with vast rapidity against the natural course of the river, now 

 descended with a velocity of which the astonished eye could 

 form no estimate, it rather resembled the passage of a winged 

 inhabitant of the air than that of a body born upon the more 

 sluggish element of water. Vessels were left upon dry land 

 or dashed in pieces against the shores. An American armed 

 ship being overset was precipitated into the ocean and never 

 more heard of; the officers and, men were chiefly saved by 

 leaping ashore, sometimes by the assistance of rafts and logs 

 of timber, watching the opportunity of the vessel impinging 

 against the bank as she darted from side to side of the river, 

 hurled along by the ungovernable fury of the torrent. From 

 every information I could procure, I believe the center of the 

 hurricane passed over the city of New Orleans, the general 

 progress of its course being at that time from about N. E. to 

 S. W. and as its first fury was felt in the direction of S. E. 

 nearly, and ended about N. W. it is evident that the circular 

 course of the vortex followed that of the sun's apparent diurnal 

 motion. — It is probable that if similar observations are made 

 upon all hurricanes, tornados and whirlwinds they will be found 



