144 



a corresponding change in the weather. Perhaps the pheno- 

 mena of a thunder-storm are due as much to the state of the 

 atmosphere in each locality, as to the ominous black cloud 

 which passes over it at the time of their appearance. 



"A few days after the storm of the 6th of July, I had an 

 opportunity of observing some of the eiFects of the whirlwind 

 which accompanied the cloud, and thus tracing a portion of its 

 course. It was at Hilhampton, adjoining Whitley Court, the 

 residence of her Majesty the Queen Dowager, which lies on 

 the direct line between Hereford and Birmingham — several 

 large, full-grown elms, standing in the middle of a field, were 

 torn up by the roots; other trees were stripped of their branches 

 at one side only, while the stem and remaining branches had 

 not been touched; a low brick wall, not a foot high, which 

 supported some paling, was torn up. It did not proceed in a 

 straight line, but in a zig-zag or curve, running in the direc- 

 tion of the course of the cloud; and what is a little remarkable, 

 the dwelling-house, which was not injured, lay in one of the 

 bends of the curve ; a large fir tree in the front had all the 

 branches on one side twisted off, and a walnut tree imme- 

 diately behind the house suffered in the same way ; neither 

 tree was ten feet from the house which was between them, 

 and it was in its course round the house that the low brick 

 wall was torn up ; it then passed amongst some hay-cocks, 

 which it carried off and scattered." 



Colonel Harry D. Jones gave the following account of 

 recent excavations which he made in the Round Towers of 

 Clonmacnoise : 



" As some time must necessarily have elapsed before the 

 vegetable material in the large tower could be removed to the 

 level of the lower floor, it was determined to employ another 

 party in sinking below the foundations of the smaller tower, 

 called TeampuU ; the ground in the interior was level with 

 the sill of the door and with the ground outside. 



