243 



o'clock. The same phenomenon was observed at Southwick, Mass.* 

 by Mr. Holcomb, at a much earlier hour. 



Professor Bache read an extract of a letter addressed by Mr. 

 Forshey, of Natchez, to Mr. Espy, in reference to the tornado 

 which occurred there recently. 



The writer stated that he had spent much time in examining the 

 track of the storm in the vicinity of Natchez. He had ascertained 

 its extent to have been not less than five or six miles below the city, 

 and twenty miles beyond ; its effects having been felt, but with less 

 violence, for nearly one hundred and fifty miles. The track near 

 Natchez was directed sixty degrees to the east of north. After de- 

 scribing the destruction of the city of Natchez, the writer states, that 

 objects were every where blown towards the track of the storm; 

 those directed most westwardly lying invariably below those directed 

 more eastwardiy. Mr. Forshey also describes the effect upon the 

 houses as of an explosion outwards. In his view, these facts strongly 

 confirm Mr. Espy's theory of this meteor. 



Professor Bache referred to the conformity between the 

 phenomena described by Mr. Forshey, and those which were 

 ascertained by Mr. Espy and himself to have occurred at New 

 Brunswick, N. J., in the tornado of June, 1825. 



Stated Meeting, July 17. 

 Present, thirty-five members. 

 Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair. 

 The following donations were received: — 



for the library. 



Astronomical Observations made at the Royal Observatory, Green- 

 wich, in the Year 1838, under the Direction of George Biddell 

 Airy, Esq., M. A. Astronomer Royal, &c. &c. 4to. London, 

 1840. — From the Royal Society. 



