Additional Objections to-Redfield’s. Theory of Storms, 31 
the very idea of those moments of awful stillness which place him 
in the central vortex of the hurricane.” (Franklin Journal, Vol. 
xix, p. 116, and this Journal, Vol. xx, p, 47.) 
64. Amid the neutaligation of evidence which inevitably re- 
sults from the conflicting statements above quoted, I will endeavor 
to point out the results which ought to ensue if the inferences of 
the advocates of the whirlwind doctrine were correct. 
65. When a rotary motion is communicated to a solid bya 
force applied to any part whatever, the tangential velocity at any 
point will be.directly as its distance from the centre. Ina fluid, 
when the force productive of rotation is applied at any point re- 
mote from the axis, the motion at the axis can be no quicker than 
in the case of a solid, but may be slower, since the parts do not 
of necessity move simultaneously. In the case of a fluid body 
Kept in motion by a momentum resulting from forces previously 
applied, as in the instance of a Redfield whirlwind, any zone, 
which has been made to revolve by the direct application of force, 
will be retarded until it causes, in.the adjoining zones, adue pro- 
portionable velocity. This will not be attained until the whole 
rotates like-a solid. There is however this difference, that the 
_ external portions of the whirling zone being pressed by the cen- 
trifngal force against other portions of the same fluid, the one 
will conflict with the other, so.as to cause the velocity to be com- 
municated and to lessen outwards from the zone (in which the 
moving power is or has been applied) till it becomes insensible. 
This result: must ensue the more speedily, since the momentum 
receives no reinforcement, while the mass which it actuates in- 
creases with the square of the distance from the axis. + 
66. It follows that at any station over which, or near ehich the 
centre of a whirlwind shall pass, there will be a breeze scarcely 
perceptible at first, but which will strengthen gradually into a 
gale of preéminent fury.. Subsequently.a declension must take 
place until the centre arrives; here again there would be no 
perceptible wind. ‘The centre having moved away, the wind 
must increase again to a maximum of force and then decline to 
a-breeze. 
a 67. Mr. Redfield alleges, that the storm vr August 17th, 1830, 
to the left, travelled from southwest to northeast at the 
rate. nearly of twenty seven miles per hour ; that its greatest di- 
ameter was from five Jaundsed.to-six hundred miles; that of its 
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