78 On the supposed Tides in the 



September was ushered in by a most violent storm of 

 rain. The rapid descent of the barometer, on the first day 

 of the month, indicated an approaching storm, and during 

 the following night it began to rain, and by the morning 

 of the 5th when it ceased, nearly eight inches had fallen, the 

 greater part of which fell during the preceding night, and 

 produced a sudden and destructive inundation. 



October was distinguished for fine weather, and the at- 

 mosphere being washed by copious showers, exhibited at 

 times, something of the transparency, and deep azure hue, 

 that are so celebrated in the climate of Italy. For several 

 days in the earlier parts of the month, the planet Venus 

 was visible at mid-day. On one occasion being nearly in 

 conjunction with the new moon, the appearance which these 

 planets exhibited through the dav, was particularly striking. 



The months of November and December, have been also, 

 for the most part, uncommonly warm and pleasant. The 

 barometer has been unusually low, the mean for November, 

 being only 29.68 inches, and for December, only 29.77 inch- 

 es. In one instance namely, on the night of the 23d of 

 November, it reached the minimum for the year, as has 

 been already noticed. 



Art. XII. — On the variations of level in the great North 

 American Lakes, with documents ; communicated for this 

 Journal, by Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn. 



Brinley Place, Roxbury, Jan. 9, 1829. 



TO THE EDITOR. 



Dear Sir — At an interview with Maj. Samuel A. Storrow, 

 late a judge advocate in the army, in the year 1817, he in- 

 formed me, that he had observed fluctuations in the waters 

 of Lakes Ontario and Michigan, resembling tides ; and that 

 he had alluded to them, in the report of a tour which he had 

 performed, in the north western regions, under the direction 

 of Gen. Brown. 



This phenomenon appears to have attracted the attention 

 of Fra. Marguette in 1673, of Baron Hontan in 1689, of 

 Charlevoix in 1721, of Capt. Whiting in 1819, and of Henry 

 R. Schoolcraft, Esq. who accompanied Gov. Cass, in his ex- 

 pedition through the lakes to the Mississippi, during the year 



