By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



377 



and limbs of trees only, but gathering strength in its onward pro- 

 gress, and lashing itself into frenzy, very rapidly it increased in 

 might, in good sooth erevit eundo, and by the time it reached Black- 

 lands Park, had attained such power, as to be capable of the greatest 

 feats of strength, which indeed it was not slow to exhibit. Even 

 here, however, I contend it had not attained the height of its fury, 

 and not at any rate till it was compressed within the narrow limits 

 of the gulley at Cherhill, perhaps not till it reached its mid course 

 at Yatesbury, did it put forth its wbole strength. And again, 

 precisely the same method of gradual decrease seems to have marked 

 its finale, for though the overthrow of part of a small barn was its 

 last and not unworthy effort, yet it left the surrounding trees and 

 buildings comparatively scatheless, and its victims for several miles 

 previously had become few, far between and ignoble. For these 

 reasons I apprehend, that it began and ended at no great distance 

 from the limits I have assigned it, and that it was a genuine 

 Wiltshire storm, its birth, life, and death having occurred within 

 the heart of the county. 



And now I come to one of the most interesting portions of my 

 subject, and would invite careful attention to the general direction 

 of the storm, and the remarkable peculiarities attending its pro- 

 gress, with reference to the position of the trees and buildings as 

 they were prostrated on the ground. I have already said that the 

 direct course of the storm was E.N.E., and it will be seen by any 

 one who will take the trouble to consult a map, that a line drawn 

 from the point of its commencement, one mile south of Calne, to 

 that of its final disappearance at Ogbourn St. George, will very 

 nearly pass through every farm estate and village enumerated 

 above, so that the course of the storm was undoubtedly in a direct 

 line ; or if the ends did incline slightly towards the north, the 

 curve was so slight, as to be almost imperceptible. But notwith- 

 standing that the hurricane came up from West to East, we do not 

 find the trees and buildings invariably lying in the general direc- 

 tion of the storm, indeed there are very many most remarkable 

 instances to the contrary, from which I select a few of the more 

 prominent. For example, in the narrow strip of meadow above 



2 BB 



