20 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



there appeared to be no wind at all. The clouds above us 

 at the time were constantly changing their forms, and 

 showers of snow were seen, in various places, at a dis- 

 tance." 



40. At another time, he says, "'While a gentle breeze from 

 the north prevailed with us, a heavy swell from the S. S. E. 

 came on, and a dense black cloud appeared, in the southern 

 horizon, which rapidly rose into the zenith, and shrouded 

 one half of the heavens. The commixture of this dense air 

 with the cold wind from the north, produced a copious dis- 

 charge of snow. When the snow ceased, (though we were 

 nearly becalmed) we observed several ships a few miles to 

 the south-eastward, under close-reefed topsails, having evi- 

 dently a gale of wind, blowing in the direction of the swell. 

 In about two hours the southern wind reached us, and as 

 we stood to the eastward, gradually increased to a gale. 

 Previous to this storm, the barometer fell three-fourths of an 

 inch in twelve hours. 



41. Now as the wind in both these storms blew in all di- 

 rections towards a particular point, it must have blown 

 upwards over that point, and hence the snow was not 

 permitted to fall at that point where there was nearly a 

 calm, but fell in " various places at a distance." It is equally 

 plain that a strong gale could not blow in sight of Captain 

 Scoresby two hours before it reached him, without blowing 

 upwards at some point between him and the ships seen 

 laboring in the gale. 



42. A remarkable circumstance which I think can only 

 be explained oil the supposition that the cloud mentioned, 

 moved upward, is related on the next page. He says : My 

 father was engaged in admiring, in a particularly fine day, 

 the extensive prospect from an eminence, on Charles' island, 

 of about two thousand feet high, when the rapid approach 

 of a small cloud attracted his attention. When it reached 

 the place where he was sitting, in a calm air, a torrent of 



