258 Mr. RedfieWs Second Reply to Dr. Hare. 



that in these violent gales, while blowing northeasterly on our 

 shores, the wind becomes more easterly, southerly, and south- 

 westerly, in proportion to the distance from the coast, thus pro- 

 ducing a dangerous cross sea; and " our merchants and insurers" 

 have, unfortunately, been too often cognizant of the destructive 

 effects. 



In par. 71-74, Dr. Hare shows that an isolated and defective 

 passage on the phases of hurricanes in the West Indies, which he 

 adduces, is not in all respects reconcilable with the local changes 

 in such storms, considered as moving whirlwinds. There are 

 at least two ways by which this labor might have been lessened 

 or avoided : first, by quoting the next sentence, which suggests 

 qualifications ; or second, by referring to the same number of this 

 Journal, Vol. xxv, p. 114-121, where the phases of these gales 

 in the western Atlantic are particularly set forth, with a key for 

 suiting these explanations to the West Indian seas ; viz. that in 

 the latter, the direction of the wind, in the corresponding sides 

 and phases of the storms, is " about ten or twelve points of the 

 compass more to the left, than on the coast of the United States 

 in the latitude of New York." 



In the next place, Dr. H. endeavors to show [75-77] that I 

 seem to suppose whirlwinds as capable of being "self-induced." 

 In justice to his readers, however, he should have quoted the en- 

 tire paragraph from which he has cited my remark " that whirl- 

 winds and spouts appear to commence gradually and to acquire 

 their full activity without the aid of any foreign causes." (This 

 Journal, Vol. xxxiii, p. 61.) But can Dr. Hare prove to us, " the 

 aid of any foreign causes?" It is proper to note here, that by the 

 above remark T did not intend to exclude the influence of atmosphe- 

 ric pressure and elasticity, nor changes of temperature and density 

 in and about the body in which gyration is induced. Neither 

 do I disconnect or "isolate" the spirally ascending central motion 

 from the great body of the tornado or v/hirlwind, as he attempts 

 to do for me. 



Dr. Hare finally declares, [78] "I do not deem it expedient to 

 enter upon any discussion as to the competency of the evidence 

 by which the gyration of storms has been considered as proved." 

 — The friends of science will doubtless be surprised at this. For, 

 if Dr. H. did not intend to discuss the " evidence^', of gyration, 

 for what useful purpose did he "enter the lists?" or why did he 



