142 PROCEEDINGS OF [Jan. 



mile of the whole region where the rain fell ; for it would require about this quan- 

 tity of coal to be burned to turn all the raia back again into vapor. The rush of 

 air on all sides towards the centre of storms, with a continued depression of the 

 barometer in that centre, could not be accounted for on any supposition but that of 

 tlie air being lighter in the region over which the storm cloud extended, and this 

 was the leading fact of his theory. Mr. Espy stated, that he had now beeoa able to 

 investigate twenty-six great storms, besides numerous tornadoes, in all of which the 

 wind did blow in towards a central space. The evidence of this fact is given 

 abundantly in his Philosophy of Storms. It was impossible on the present occasion 

 to bring forward and explain the numerous phenomena embraced by his theory ; 

 but he took the opportunity to say, that nothing was wanting now to make meteo- 

 rology an exact science, and draw from liis discovery of the cause of these phe- 

 nomena all the advantages which the theory pointed out, but a series of wide-spread 

 simultaneous observations, made by competent observers, with instruments of 

 standard accuracy. 



With such a system in complete operation, no storm eould spring up or come 

 within our bofders without being under the eye of several observers. Thus the 

 sliape and size of all stomis, the dii-ection and velocity of their motion over the 

 surface of the earth, and the force and direction of the wind during their pas. 

 sage, would be known. The quantity of rain, and the moment of its greatest 

 fall, and also the moment of the maxima and minima of the barometer, a matter of 

 high importance, would be known. The immense advantages resulting to the mari- 

 ner, to say nothing of the farmer and citizens generally, would greatly overbalance 

 any pains and expense which may attend the further prosecution of this subject. 

 Indeed, any mariner who shall make liimself acquainted with the science as it now 

 stands, will be able both in the West Indies and in the bay of Bengal, to use as 

 much wind in the borders of the tremendous hurricanes there, as will suit the pur- 

 poses of navigation ;* and in higher latitudes, where the storms are of immense 

 diameter from north to south, and move side foremost, from westerly to easterly, he 

 will know in what direction the centre of the storm is from his locality, and be able 

 so to steer his vessel as to get out of the storm in the shortest possibb time. 



Whereupon, on motion of Col. Totten, it was 



Resolved, That a comniiltee be appointed to confer with Mr. Espy 

 on the subject of his theory of storms, and to report what measures, 

 if any, they deem it proper to be adopted by the National Institution, 

 to aid in the investigation of meteorological phenomena. 



The Conespondinj; Secretary stated, that early in the year 1841, 

 a circular which was approved by the then directory, the Secretaries 



• It has been demonstrated by Redfidd, and confirmed by Reid, that the storms 

 of the West Indies move tx)wards the northwest; and Dr. Piddington hjs shown 

 that the storms in the b;iy of Bcng.il, also move towards tlie northwest ; and Espy 

 has shown that the wind blows towards the centre of all storms in their borders. 



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