88 Table showing the First Appearance of Ice, ^c. 



find in the end, that the independence of each is more fully estab- 

 Hshed. while all the members of the alliance are bound more 

 firmly together than ever, by a consistent and harmonious effi- 

 ciency, as beneficent in its influence as it will be delightful to 

 every truly enlightened and philanthropic mind. 



New Haven, March 31, 1840. 



Art. XI. — Table showing the First Appearance of Ice, the Clos- 

 ing and the time of Opening of the Connecticut River at Mid- 

 dletown ; by Joseph Barratt, M. D., corresponding member 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and of 

 the New York Lyceum of Natural History, &c. The latitude 

 of the Wesleyan University in Middletown is 41° 33' S'' N. 

 Longitude 4h. 51m. 2s. =72° 45' 30'' W. 



To the Editors of the American Journal of Science and Arts. 



Gentlemen — The annexed table is submitted to your examina- 

 tion, and if considered of sufficient value to be entitled to a place 

 in the Journal of Science and Arts, I shall be happy to see it in 

 print. I have thought this table might not be without its inter- 

 est to those engaged in the navigation of the Connecticut river, 

 as it will furnish them with data for sixty years, of the closing 

 with ice, and the periods of opening at Middletown, situated 

 thirty miles from its mouth. I am not aware that any similar 

 table relating to the Connecticut river, has ever been given to the 

 public. The Regents of the University of the State of New 

 York, have considered the "periods when the Hudson river is 

 opened and closed at Albany," of sufficient importance to be 

 printed in their annual reports, made to the legislature of that 

 State, see Document No. 56, p. 206, for 1839. The dates there 

 referred to, commence in 1786, but the table is incomplete till 

 the year 1818, when the opening as well as the period of the 

 closing of the Hudson river, is given. This table may also be 

 serviceable to the geographer desirous of ascertaining the periods 

 the great rivers of North America continue ice-bound, and for 

 comparison with the rivers and climate of the north of Europe. 



Middletown, Conn., February 24, 1840. 



