Mr. Espy’s Theory of Storms. 207 
phia, very properly referred to the opposing theory of Mr. apy; 
of that city, and stated, also, that in his own survey of the track 
of the water-spout, or tornado, which passed across the State of 
New Jersey in June, 1837, he had made. observations which ap- 
peared to accord with Mr. Espy’s theory of storms; and that he 
had found no evidence of a whirling motion at the surface of the 
ground, such as Col. Reid had ascribed to water-spouts and hur- 
ricanes. This view of the case Prof. Bache had also supported 
in an able paper on the phenomena of that tornado. I deem it 
proper ‘to state here, that having also examined the track of the 
New Jersey ‘tornade: within a few days of its occurrence, and 
having twice repeated the examination, at later periods, I have 
observed on each occasion, numerous facts which ¢ appear to de- 
monstrate the whirling character of this tornado, as well as the 
inward tendency of the vortex at the surface of the ground ; and 
further, that the direction of this rotation was towar ds the left, as 
in the North Atlantic hurricanes}—a result which I had not pre- 
; viously expected, as it appeared probable that the direction of ro- 
tation, in these small whirlwinds, must be entirely accidental. 
This lends me to notice the only point, perhaps, on which my 
inquiries have led to a result differing from that obtained. by Col. 
Reid ; for in many cases of this sort} since examined, Ihave found 
the eotitse of rotation to be uniformly towards the left. 
Perhaps T should add farther, that having also examined with 
Some care, the reports of the meteorological committees at Phila- 
delphia, made through Mr. Espy, their chairman, and also the 
Meteorological essays of this gentleman, I have not been able to 
find evidence which disproved ‘the rotation of a violent storm, 
or that established-a course of wind from all sides of a storm: di- 
rectly towards its centre, im accordance with his eB but, on 
the’ contrary, an analysis of the evidence which Mr. E. has 
duced pattie with the additional facts which I have ea able. 
to sbiein,; has appeared to contravene his conclusions. “A val 
statement of facts relating to the snow storm which visited Péin- 
sylvania and other states on the 17th and 18th of March last, 
drawn up by Mr. Espy, has recently been published ‘by the Phila- 
delphia committees.* Should the facts contained in this. paper be 
— in favor of Mr. Espy’s theory, I would only say, that in 
* See Journal of the Franklin fiiitate, Vol. xx11, 1838, pp. 161-175. 
