EXAMINATION OF REID'S STORMS. 265 



an atmosphere of the most translucent brightness. At 6, A. M., 

 the thermometer stood as high as 83, which indicated the 

 heat to be one degree greater than at sunset the preceding 

 evening. At 8 it rose to 85, and at 10 to 86, at which 

 hour the gentle breeze which had fanned the country died 

 away. After a temporary calm, high winds sprang up 

 from the E. N. E., which in their turn subsided; calms for 

 the most part then prevailed, interrupted by occasional sud- 

 den puffs, from between the N. and N. E. At noon the 

 heat increased to 87, and at 2, P. M. to 88, at which 

 time the weather was uncommonly sultry and oppressive. 

 At 4 the mercury sank to 86. Until that hour the observa- 

 tions on the weather, as here detailed, were made in Bridge- 

 town. At 5, P. M. the writer, being about a mile and a 

 half to the northward of the town, remarked the clouds 

 gathering very densely from the N. ; the wind commenced 

 to blow very freshly from the same point. 



"A shower of rain presently fell, and was succeeded by 

 a sudden stillness, to which a solemnity was added by the 

 dismal blackness of the horizon all around. The impene- 

 trable body of cloud extended upwards towards the zenith, 

 leaving there an obscure circle of imperfect light, the diam- 

 eter of which appeared to be about 35 or 40 degrees of the 

 celestial concave. This dismal circle remained at rest for 

 a very few moments; when the scud of it was seen to be 

 in a state of ebullition ; the dense mass of clouds all around 

 was agitated, and separating bodies of it were quickly dis- 

 persed to all points of the compass. From 6 to 7 the weather 

 was fair and the wind moderate, with occasional slight puffs 

 from the N. ; the lower and principal stratum of clouds 

 passing fleetly towards the S., the higher strata and scud 

 rapidly flying to various points ; after 7, the sky was clear 

 and the air calm ; tranquillity reigned till a little after 9, 

 when the wind again blew from the N. At half past 9 it 

 freshened, and moderate showers of rain fell at intervals 

 34 



