EXPLOSIONS IN COAL-MINES AND REVOLVING STORMS. 9 



A cyclonic depression of the barometric curve extends through nearly the 

 whole of June, the centre passing between the 13th and 16th, when strong 

 winds blew, shifting from S. to N.E. on the 16th. The observations at 

 Nottingham on the 14th are — 10 a.m., thunder-storm until Y'30 p.m., wind 

 W., barometer rising ; thermometer 63°'5 at 2*30 p.m., and 66° at 3'40 p.m. 

 In the Manchester curves, both the thermal lines rise considerably from the 

 middle to the end of the month, which was distinguished by a very general 

 perturbation of the atmosphere ; thus, on the 27th of June there was a heavy 

 storm of thunder, lightning and rain at Glasgow, and a waterspout near 

 Irvine ; on the 28th a great storm at Belfast, and on the 29th a S.W. gale 

 at Queenstown. 



Explosions in July 1852 (Plate IV.). 



July 17, High Green Colliery, Sheffield. 

 „ 24, Tillerey Colliery, Monmouthshire. 

 „ 27, Haydock Colliery, Warrington. 

 „ 30, Silkstone Colliery, Barnsley. 



July 4, Jackfield Colliery, Burslem. 

 „ 6, Beeston Manor Colliery, Leeds. 

 „ 8, Monkwearmouth Colliery. 

 „ 15, Alfreton Colliery. 

 „ 16, Foley Colliery, Longton. 



" In July, the maximum temperature was very high and steady, rising at 

 times above 90°, and once reaching 92°*5." (Mr. Lowe.) 



It is unnecessary to particularize here the dates of the thunder-storms, 

 waterspouts, &c. which occurred during this month of excessive warmth. 

 The thermal curves indicate distinctly the coincidence of days of explosion 

 and of increased temperature. 



Explosions in August 1852. 



Aug. 23, Sutherland Colliery, Dudley. 

 „ 30, Bredbury Mine, Cheshire. 



Aug. 6, Manor Park Colliery, Belper. 

 „ 13, Bradshaw House Colliery, Wigan. 

 „ 16, Ubberley Colliery, Hanley. 



A great cyclone, accompanied by thunder-storms and very violent gales 

 all over the kingdom, is characterized in the barometric curve by a depression 

 extending from the 1st to the 20th of August. The southerly gale of the 1 1th 

 and 12th is described as the most violent for many years. The gale is from 

 the N.N.W. on the 15th. Its subsequent arrival on the continent is marked 

 by a destructive hailstorm and waterspout in Wirtemberg on the 19th, a 

 great storm at Leipsic on the 28th and 31st, &c. The thermal lines con- 

 tinue high during the whole month. 



Explosions in September 1852. 



Sept. 5, Little Lever Colliery, Bolton. 

 „ 16, Glodwich Colliery, Oldham. 

 „ 17, Brymbo Colliery, Denbigh. 

 „ 18, Little Hulton Colliery, Lancashire. 



Sept. 22, Winnington Wood Colliery, New- 

 port. 

 ,, 24, Hunsworth Colliery, Bradford. 

 „ 25, Roway Colliery, Tipton. 



Several very severe West Indian hurricanes crossed the Atlantic Ocean 

 during the autumn and winter of 1852. Avery destructive cyclone blew at 

 Mobile from the 23rd to the 26th of August, and afterwards travelled along 

 the east coast of the United States from Virginia to Maine. A month after- 

 wards another great cyclone devastated Antigua, Martinique, &c. on the 

 22nd and 23rd of September, and a third reached its climax at Jamaica on 

 the 6th of October. 



The barometric curve in England presents a succession of extreme fluc- 

 tuations derived from the violent atmospheric paroxysms in the Western 

 Atlantic. 



At Highfield House, Nottingham, on the 5th of September, there was a 

 brief but heavy storm in the evening, and on the 6th a great thunder-storm. 

 Nearly 2^ inches of rain fell in twenty-four hours. From the 14th to the 



