312 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



caus3s of those occurrences which, sometimes in our own 

 climate and more frequently in tropical regions display 

 effects which have hitherto perplexed the minds of the most 

 acute observers. All accounts concur in representing the 

 air of the morning, and indeed of the whole day up to the 

 time of the tornado, as unusually sultry. This was ob- 

 served between the hours of two and four, P. M., in a ride 

 from Hightstown to Princeton, a distance of about nine 

 miles ; also, in the city of New York, and on the voyage 

 from the latter city to New Brunswick. At four o'clock, 

 the sun was still unobscured at Princeton ; but within half 

 an hour, a cloud from the north west had reached that place, 

 and a shower of rain, accompanied by a brisk wind from 

 the south west, had commenced. Before five o'clock, the 

 rain had ceased, and the air was less oppressive. The 

 evening continued tranquil until ten o'clock, when another 

 shower of rain fell, accompanied by some wind ; but within 

 half an hour, the sky was once more cloudless, and the 

 wind began to rise with much force, from the west or north 

 west, and from twelve at night to five next morning, it was 

 boisterous. 



Intelligence of the occurrences at New Brunswick hav- 

 ing been received during the forenoon, it was resolved to 

 visit the spot, and endeavor to ascertain, by observation 

 and inquiry, while the traces were yet unobliterated, such 

 facts as might explain the mode of action by which the de- 

 vastation hai 1 een effected. On arriving within six miles 

 of New Brunswick, on the old turnpike road, we 1 were 

 informed by an eye-witness, that it had been seen about a 

 mile and a Lalf north easterly from that point; and that 

 the dense black cloud was, by the junior observers, conceived 



1 In this excursion, and the subsequent inquiries, the writer was accompa- 

 nied and aided by his friend Professr r Joseph Henry ; who is to be consid- 

 ered as entitled to a full share of whatever credit may attach to the observa- 

 tions referred to in this paper. 



