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On the prevailing Storms of the Atlantic Coast. 29 
in order to blow from the south-east, the center of the storm, (if its 
progress be north-eastward) must pass near the point or parallel from 
which we observe it, the direction of the wind being, in all cases, 
compounded of both the rotative and progressive velocities of the 
storm, in the mean ratio of these velocities ; while towards the north- 
ern and western margin of the same storm the wind is north-easterly. 
Such south-east storms, their central portions being on, or near, the 
land, must necessarily be circumscribed in their influence by the 
obstructions .and elevations of the interior, and particularly by the 
mountainous ranges. Being thus confined or limited in their dimen- 
sions, they of course extend only to a corresponding distance on the 
opposite semi-diameter to seaward, and this furnishes the reason why 
the south-east storms experienced on land, are never known to ex- 
tend, at sea, to any great distance from the coast. ‘The narrow di- 
mensions of the south-east storm also favor its more rapid impulsion 
by the prevailing southerly current of atmosphere, and this sufficient- 
ly accounts for its comparatively short duration. 
It results also from these views, that if a storm blow from the north- 
east along our coast, its central portion, or axis, will be found to range 
at a considerable distance from the coast, atsea. If such a storm be 
also felt over a considerable portion of the country adjacent to the 
coast, its dimensions must be far more considerable than those of the _ 
south-east storm, and if im addition to its increased dimensions, it be 
found to advance with less rapidity than the smaller storm, its increas- 
ed duration wil! be sufficiently explained. 
The generally admitted progress of our storms from south-west to 
north-east is confirmed by all the evidence which the writer has been 
able to obtain. It has been freely assumed also in these remarks, . 
{rom what was deemed to be sufficient evidence, that most storms, if 
not all, exhibit m a greater or less degree a circumrotative character, 
or in other words, that they usually blow in the form of extensive ed- 
dies or whirlwinds, and the specific character of the north-east and 
south-east storms of our coast, and their points of difference has been 
explained upon these principles. Should the evidence produced be 
deemed insufficient to establish these views, further confirmation may 
be obtained for them by ascertaining the direction of the wind in an 
easterly storm, on a line drawn across its track from north-west to 
south-east. ‘I'he farther inland such an enquiry is extended, the 
more northerly will have been the direction of the wind, till we get 
beyond the extreme verge of the storm. On the other hand, as we 
