428 APPENDIX. 



were lost in the gale and snow-storm, or driven ashore. The 

 storm closed up on the 13th, at New York City; the wind at 

 northwest, and very cold. The rain, snow, and hail which had 

 fallen gave good sleighing a part of that day. These notices 

 cover an area of about five hundred miles square, proving the 

 universality of our autumnal phenomena. 



Indian Summer. 



This season appears to be produced by the settling of a thin 

 azure vapor. It is supposed to arise from the partial decompo- 

 sition of the foliage of the forest after the autumnal rains are past. 

 "What is called the Indian summer," says an observer at Albany, 

 " usually gives us fifteen or twenty days of uncommonly pleasant 

 fall weather, commencing in the early part of October. The pre- 

 sent season it set in as usual, and we had a week or ten days of 

 very fine weather, when a northeast storm commenced, and con- 

 tinued for part of two days; within which time more rain is sup- 

 posed to have fallen than during the whole of the preceding sum- 

 mer and fall. Most of the streams and springs were filled, and 

 the Hudson Eiver, in many places, overflowed its banks. It 

 however again cleared off pleasant, and remained so till Tuesday 

 evening, when another storm of rain commenced, which continued 

 the whole night. In the morning, there was some fall of hail ac- 

 companying the rain, and about 8 o'clock a slight flurry of snow, 

 and another on Thursday evening ; since which the weather has 

 set in cold, and has the appearance of the closing in of fall or the 

 setting in of winter. We however expect to put off wdnter and 

 cold weather for some time yet, and anticipate many pleasant 

 days in November." 



Indian summer, in Oneida, commenced on the 15th November. 

 The weather had previously been cold, with snow and rain and a 

 murky atmosphere. 



Wednesday, Nov. 15. The snow, wliicli lay six inches deep, began to thaw, and the 



sky was clear and sunny. 

 Thursday, " 16. Was a clear and pleasant day throughout; snow continued to 



melt. 

 Friday, " 17. The same, and smoky; warm sunshine; not a cloud to be 



seen ; snow melts. 

 Saturday, " 18. The same. 



