34 On the prevailing Storms of the Atlantic Coast. 



the case sometimes with violent winds which blow from off moun- 

 tains, or high table land. The motions of some parts of the atmos- 

 phere which may be immediately contiguous to a storm or a whirl- 

 wind, may also be in every intervening state of regularity or confu- 

 sion. It is believed, however, that all hurricanes and tornadoes 

 must be ascribed to causes analogous to those of which we have ta- 

 ken cognizance. Those which occur in the East Indian seas are 

 well known to attend the changes of the monsoons, where winds 

 moving in different directions, are brought to bear upon each other, 

 or upon the opposing coasts, and the violent rotative effects naturally 

 follow. 



The desultory character of this essay, and the nature of the sub- 

 ject treated of, may seem to require some further detail of facts, or . 

 circumstances, tending to corroborate the foregoing views, and which 

 will now be given, although the recollections of most persons, and 

 particularly the observations of experienced and intelligent ship- 

 masters, it is believed, will sufficiently establish the leading facts 

 upon which these remarks are grounded. It is to the recorded ob- 

 servations, and careful reports of the members of the laborious and 

 hazardous profession to which we now allude, that the cause of sci- 

 ence must be chiefly indebted for an accurate and extensive knowl- 

 edge of oceanic meteorology. 



Some storms of recent occurrence have, from their peculiar vio- 

 lence, excited more than ordinary attention, and the following state- 

 ments have been selected from the accounts which have been ob- 

 tained of their locality and progress. The first of these storms which 

 claims our notice, is that which passed the city of New York on the 

 17th of August last, (1S30) being at New York, and along the whole 

 coast north of Hatteras, a north-east storm. 



This storm, or hurricane, was severe at the island of St. Thomas', 

 on the night between the 12th and 13th of August. 



On the afternoon of August 14th, it commenced at the Bahama 

 Islands, and continued during the succeeding night, the wind veering 

 almost round the compass during the existence of the storm. 



On the 15th of August, the storm prevailed in the Florida chan- 

 nel, and was very disastrous in its effects. 



In Lat. 26° 51', Lon. 79° 40', in the Florida stream, the gale was 

 severe on the 15th, from north-north-east to south-west. 



Late oil the 15th, off St. Augustine, (Florida) in Lat. 29° SS', 

 Lon, 80° 20', the gale was very severe. 



