170 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



port," (92) and also in a paper by a member ! of the commit- 

 tee, which was first published in Poulson's Daily Advertiser, 

 it appears that this disturbing influence sometimes reaches 

 several hundred miles in distance, and more than a day in 

 time. (171). 



It remains then, when a storm comes within disturbing 

 influence, and is known to be raging in a particular direc- 

 tion, to endeavor to ascertain whether that storm will reach 

 the place of observation, and in what time ; or whether it 

 will pass to the right or the left of the observer, and in 

 what direction the wind will blow during its passage. 

 When this shall be done, the mariner, who has the power 

 of locomotion, will be able, on the approach of a storm, so 

 to direct his vessel as to avoid the violence of its centre, 

 and keep as near its borders as will suit the purposes of 

 navigation. And the farmer, who cannot change his local- 

 ity, will at least be able to prepare for its arrival. 



Now the only probable means of obtaining this highly- 

 desirable result is to find out the shape and size of great 

 storms, and their course and velocity over the earth's sur- 

 face in the different latitudes and different seasons of the 

 year. 



If there is any general law of nature embracing these 

 phenomena, it is highly probable that it will be discovered 

 by a careful examination of the numerous simultaneous, or 

 nearly simultaneous observations of these phenomena, which 

 it is hoped will soon be placed at the disposal of the com- 

 mittee. 



That there is a general law, as it relates to the direction 

 in which some very violent storms of moderate size, move, 

 has been most satisfactorily demonstrated by the labors of 

 Mr. Redfield, of New York, and confirmed by the investi- 

 gations of this committee. Besides, there is very strong 



1 C. C. Walker, Esq. 



