266 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



for the next hour. Distant lightning was observed at half 

 past 10, in the N. N. E. and N. W. Squalls of wind and rain 

 from the N. N. E., with intermediate calms, succeeded each 

 other until midnight, the thermometer in the meantime 

 varied with remarkable activity; during the calms it rose 

 as high as 86, at other moments fluctuated from 83 to 85. 



"After midnight, the continual flashing of lightning was 

 awfully grand, and a gale blew fiercely from between the 

 N. and N. E. At 1, A. M. of the llth the tempestuous 

 rage of the wind increased ; the storm, which at one mo- 

 ment blew from the N. E., suddenly shifted from that quar- 

 ter, and burst from the N. W. and intermediate points. 

 The upper regions were, from this, illuminated by inces- 

 sant lightning, but the quivering sheet of blaze was sur- 

 passed in brilliancy by the darts of electric fire which were 

 explored in every direction. At a little after 2, the as- 

 tounding roar of the hurricane, which rushed from the 

 N. N. W. and N. W., cannot by language be described. 

 About 3, the wind occasionally abated, but intervening 

 gusts proceeded from the S. W., the W., and W. N. W"., 

 with accumulated fury. The lightning also having ceased 

 for a few moments only at a time, the blackness in which 

 the town was enveloped was inexpressibly awful. Fiery 

 meteors were presently seen falling from the heavens ; one 

 in particular, of a globular form, and a deep red hue, was 

 observed by the writer to descend perpendicularly from a 

 vast height. It evidently fell by its specific gravity, and 

 was not shot or propelled by any extraneous force. On 

 approaching the earth, with accelerated force, it assumed a 

 dazzling whiteness and an elongated form, and dashing to 

 the ground in Beckwith Square, opposite the stores of 

 Messrs. H. D. Grierson and Co., it splashed round in the 

 same manner as melted metal would have done, and was 

 instantly extinct. In shape and size, it appeared much 

 like a common barrel shade. Its brilliancy, and the spark- 



