rig of the ship, and its particular character, insomuch that I con- 

 fidently pronounced it to be my father's ship, the Fame, which it 

 afterwards proved to be, though in comparing notes with my fa- 

 ther, I found that our relative positions at the time gave our dis- 

 tance from one another very nearly thirty miles, being about- 

 seventeen miles beyond the horizon, and some leagues beyond 

 the limit of direct vision. 1 was so struck by the peculiarity of 

 the circumstance, that I mentioned it to the offiser. of the watch*, 

 stating my full conviction that the Fame was then cruising in i\\& 

 neighboring inlet." 



A fine exhibition of mirage was witnessed at Cleveland on the 

 afternoon of April 12, 1848, at half past three o'clock, P. M. r 

 and which is represented in the engraving below. The steam- 

 boat New Orleans left Fairpart, 30 miles from Cleveland, at 3h 

 10m. P. M., and consequently at the time the mirage was seen, 

 was below the horizon ; with a glass however, two distinct ima- 

 ges were perceived elevated' in the air, and a point of land ordi- 

 narily invisible coi^d be easily observed. This phenomeon was* 

 witnessed by a large number oi persons. 



These phenomena, which we Have repeatedly witnessed, are- 

 owing to peculiar states of the atmosphere as regards density and 

 moisture. Every one is aware that a straight stick appears to b<& 

 crooked when thrust iiito tne water, bending at the pis ne of the' 

 surface, and when a ray of light passes from one medium to an- 

 other this refraction or beading always occurs, in a greater or less 

 degree, according to the difference of density in the media, on 

 the peculiar refracting power. The effect oratmospherie refrac- 

 tion is always to make a body appear higher than it really is, thus 

 we see the sun, actually after sunset, the rays which proceed from 



