122 Meteors. 



ses into that rarefied place ; for the 

 same reason which causes it to ascend in- 

 to the exhausted tube, and forms the 

 water-spout or pillar of water in the air. 

 The water-spouts generally break about 

 their middle, and the falling waters oc- 

 casion great damage, either to ships that 

 have the misfortune of being under them, 

 or to the adjoining land ; for such spouts 

 are sometimes formed on a lake, or river, 

 or on the sea close to the land. 



As the motion of the air has a greater 

 or lesser velocity, the wind is stronger or 

 weaker ; and it is found from observation, 

 that the velocity of the wind is various, 

 from the rate of 1 to 1OO miles per hour. 

 The following particulars respecting 

 the velocity, &?<:. of the wind are extracted 

 from a table which appeared in the 51st 

 volume of the Philosophical Transactions, 

 by Mr. J. Smeaton, the celebrated engi- 

 neer. 



When the velocity of the wind is one 

 mile per hour it is hardly perceptible. 

 From 2 to 3 just perceptible. 



4 5 gentle pleasant wind, or breezes, 



10 15 pleasant brisk gale. 



20 25 very brisk. 



30 35 high winds. 



