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The Secretary read an extract from a letter of Edward J. 

 Cooper, Esq., M. R. I. A., addressed to the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, 

 on a Thunder-shower at Markree Castle on June 30th, 1851 : 



" The forenoon of June 30th was fine, but overcast. There 

 were a few drops of rain about noon ; atmosphere electrically 

 charged, but not unusually so for the period of the year. At 

 4, p. m., very distant thunder; and the clouds showing symp- 

 toms of an approaching storm, I returned to the house from 

 my garden. The heat at this time was considerable, yet not 

 such as to indicate very near high electric action. At 1 mi- 

 nutes past 6, p. m., I first perceived a flash of lightning ; I then 

 took my watch out to ascertain its distance. One thunder-clap 

 was remarkably loud for the distance, which was six miles. 

 Moving to the window, facing N. W., under which some peo- 

 ple were playing at quoits, and perceiving that there was 

 scarcely any wind, I told them that they need not be afraid of 

 the storm, as the lightning was so distant; the nearest was 

 not within four miles. At about half-past, and in an instant 

 of time, a strong breeze arose, followed almost immediately and 

 as instantaneously by a most extraordinary shower of rain, with 

 hail. In five minutes the road under the window was a sheet 

 of water ; the quantity was so great that it penetrated through 

 the ceilings of two stories of the house. It lasted for fifteen 

 minutes ; and during this time there fell one and a half inch 

 depth of rain ! ! This singular phenomenon moved in a direc- 

 tion nearly at right angles to the magnetic meridian, from S."W. 

 towards N. E. A lady who was in a room with a southern aspect, 

 saw the rain approaching, and described it as appearing like a 

 dark sheet. After this had passed away, there was no heavy 

 rain again until a quarter before 8. The heaviest shower pre- 

 viously noted here fell on the 6th of August, 1846. On this 

 occasion the amount of rain which fell in fourteen minutes 

 = 0.409 in. This gives at the rate of forty- two inches for one 

 day ; but it was quite eclipsed on the 30th ult, which was at 

 the rate of twelve feet per diem ! ! I think that this last shower 



