498 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



favorable circumstances are more likely to occur in time of 

 drought than at any other time, then it follows that the 

 experiment is a highly interesting one, and ought to be im- 

 mediately tried. If it should be successful, who can tell 

 the mighty results which may follow in its train? 



I have many reasons and facts which induce me to be- 

 lieve that if a very large cloud is once generated, the rain 

 will become general, or at least spread over a wide extent 

 of territory ; and who can tell, a priori, that this will not 

 be the case, when it is now known that an immense 

 steam power is let loose in the formation of such a cloud ; 

 a power which can be calculated with as much accuracy as 

 that of the steam engine itself, and in part on the same 

 principle. 



Gentlemen have made their puns on this project, and had 

 their laugh ; and I am sorry to see by letters which I have 

 received, that my friends and relations at a distance are 

 much troubled at these innocent laughs; but let them be 

 consoled; I have laughed too, well knowing that those who 

 laughed the most heartily, would be the most willing to en- 

 courage the experiment, as soon as they discovered they 

 had nothing to laugh at. As a proof that I was right in 

 this anticipation, I may be permitted to say that I have 

 lately received a letter from a highly distinguished member 

 of the American legislature, 1 who laughed as heartily as any 

 one when my petition was presented there, containing many 

 kind expressions, and promising me by way of amends for 

 his levity, " to avail himself of the earliest opportunity of 

 being better informed on the subject of my new philosophy." 

 Such conduct as this is all I want ; I fear not the strictest 

 scrutiny. 



If I should be encouraged to go on with the experiment, 

 I mean to have a large mass of combustibles prepared ready 

 for use, and when I have found all the circumstances, men- 



1 Hon. J. J. Crittenden. 



