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a corresponding change in the weather. Perhaps the pheno- 
mena of a thunder-storm are due as much to the state of the 
atmosphere in each locality, as to the ominous black cloud 
which passes over it at the time of their appearance. 
‘* A few days after the storm of the 6th of July, I had an 
opportunity of observing some of the effects of the whirlwind 
which accompanied the cloud, and thus tracing a portion of its 
course. It was at Hilhampton, adjoining Whitley Court, the 
residence of her Majesty the Queen Dowager; which lies on 
the direct line between Hereford and Birmingham—several 
large, full-grown elms, standing in the middle of a field, were 
torn up by the roots; other trees were stripped of their branches 
at one side only, while the stem and remaining branches had 
not been touched; a low brick wall, not a foot high, which 
supported some paling, was torn up. It did not proceed in a 
straight line, but in a zig-zag or curve, running in the direc- 
tion of the course of the cloud; and what is a little remarkable, 
the dwelling-house, which was not injured, lay in one of the 
bends of the curve; a large fir tree in the front had all the 
branches on one side twisted off, and a walnut tree imme- 
diately behind the house suffered in the same way; neither 
tree was ten feet from the house which was between them, 
and it was in its course round the house that the low brick 
wall was torn up; it then passed amongst some hay-cocks, 
which it carried off and scattered.” 
Colonel Harry D. Jones gave the following account of 
recent excavations which he made in the Round Towers of 
Clonmacnoise : 
‘** As some time must necessarily have elapsed before the 
vegetable material in the large tower could be removed to the 
level of the lower floor, it was determined to employ another 
party in sinking below the foundations of the smaller tower, 
called ‘Teampull; the ground in the interior was level with 
the sill of the door and with the ground outside. 
