CHAP. 8. VARIETIES OF WEATHER. 239 



at different times of day, and exhibiting innu- 

 merable and dissimilar tints, according with 

 the Sun's varying altitude, afford abundant 

 amusement for the speculative observer, who 

 delights in the highly diversified scenery of 

 nature. But when we observe the relation of 

 such multiform configurations of the clouds to 

 other phaenomena, the varying and irregular 

 action of De Luc's Electroscope, the irregular 

 strength and duration of the Winds, the alti- 

 tude of the mercury in the barometer, and to 

 the state of other instruments, our curiosity is 

 enhanced ; and our desire further to develop 

 the principles of such relations becomes yet 

 of more moment, when we find atmospheric 

 peculiarities, of which such appearances are 

 tokens to influence the growth of vegetables, 

 and to affect the functions of animal life. 



The kind of weather above depicted continued 

 through the chief part of the autumn of 1810, 

 during which time such derangements in the 

 action of the digestive system, as are commonly 

 called autumnal diseases, were remarkably pre- 

 valent, followed by hypochondriasis, and other 

 nervous affections. It was in the same season 

 that the great mortality happened among the 

 Plane Trees above alluded to. The weather of 



