This was because the cold N. W. wind which followed storms began to follow them as the storms curved and passed to the N. E.

They occur in Europe also. Says Kämtz:

“Such contrasts are not uncommon in Europe, and, in this respect, the Alps form a remarkable limit; for they separate the climates of the north of Europe from the Mediterranean climates, where the distribution of rain is not the same as in the center of Europe. Hence the differences between the climates of the north and south of France. If the winter is mild in the north, the newspapers are filled with the lamentations of the Italians and Provençals at the severity of the cold.”

These facts seem to indicate a primary action in the counter-trade. Probably in connection with one class of storms they do, and with another do not. I shall endeavor to show the distinction when I come to the classification of storms.

The difference of seasons in this country, and over the entire northern hemisphere, is often very great. In a remarkable work of a remarkable man—“A Brief History of Epidemic and Pestilential Diseases,” by Noah Webster, published in 1799, 2 vols.—a history of the weather for about two centuries—1600 to 1799 inclusive, is given generally, and then in a tabular form. Those who think that every considerable extreme which occurs exceeds any thing before known, will do well to consult that work. Droughts are described, where “there was not a drop of rain for three or four months, and cattle were fed upon the leaves of the trees.” Winters, so intensely cold that the thermometer fell to 20° below zero, at Brandywine; or so mild that there was little frost, and people upon Connecticut River plowed their fields, and the peach trees blossomed in Pennsylvania in February. These extremes generally existed in Europe and America at the same time, but occasionally they were opposite and alternate. Says Mr. Webster, in summing up the facts (vol. ii. p. 12): “It is to be observed that in some cases a severe winter extends to both hemispheres, sometimes to one only, and in a few cases to a part of a hemisphere only. Thus in 1607-8, 1683-4, 1762-3, 1766-7, 1779-80, 1783-4, the severity extended to both hemispheres. In 1640-41, 1739-40, and in other instances, the severe winter in Europe preceded, by one year, a similar winter in America. In a few instances, severe frost takes place in one hemisphere during a series of mild winters in the others; but this is less common. In general, the severity happens in both hemispheres at once, or in two winters, in immediate succession; and, as far as this evidence has yet appeared, this severity is closely attendant on volcanic discharges, with very few exceptions.”

It will be seen that Dr. Webster (LL.D. and not M.D., and therefore the remarkable character of the work) attributes great influence to earthquakes and volcanic action. Probably he is correct in this. The present active volcanic action of the western hemisphere is nearly all within the trade-wind region, from Mexico to Peru inclusive. The West India islands are of volcanic origin, and the influence of volcanic action is not confined to a concussion of the earth, or the eruption of mud and lava. Its connection with magnetic action, and disturbance, is unquestionable. But whether they operate to increase or diminish the trades, and the extent to which they induce violent electric action and storms within and without the tropics, is a question which further observation must determine. The ripples of the ocean, compared by Lieutenant Banvard to that of a “boiling cauldron, or such as is formed by water being forced from under the gate of a mill-pond,” are met with in the vicinity of volcanic islands, where hurricanes and water-spouts originate, and have been observed to precede storms, and be connected with a falling barometer. But whether they are volcanic or magneto-electric, it is difficult to determine. Dr. Webster remarks, as the result of observation, during the 17th century, that earthquakes had a N. W. and S. E. progression in the United States, and especially in New England. In a recent article, Professor Dana has examined, with great ability, the general and remarkable trending of coast lines, groups of islands, and ranges of mountains, from N. E. to S. W. and from N. W. to S. E. (American Journal of Science, May, 1847.)

The line of magnetic intensity, which connects our magnetic pole with its opposite, is now upon this continent nearly a N. W. and S. E. line, and the pole is fast traveling to the west. It may, and probably will yet, be established, that there is an intimate connection between the cause of volcanic action within the earth, to which the upheaval of the N. W. and S. E., and N. E. and S. W. ranges were due, and of magnetic action without, and between both, and the cause of the S. E. extension of our summer storms and belts of showers and barometric waves, and the peculiar N. W. wind. Our limits do not permit us to pursue the subject.

Much influence upon the weather has been attributed to the spots upon the sun. These spots are supposed to be breaks or openings in the luminous atmosphere or photosphere of the sun, through which its dark nucleus body is seen. Counselor Schwabe, of Dessau, has made them his study since 1826, and has arrived at some singular results. They seem to be numerous—in groups—and to appear periodically with minima and maxima of ten years. As the result of his observations, from 1826 to 1850, he gives us the following table and remarks:

Year.Groups.Days showing
no spots.		Days of
Observation.
182611822277
18271612273
18282250282
18291990244
18301901217
18311493239
18328449270
183333139267
183451120273
183517318244
18362720200
18373330168
18382820202
18391620205
18401523263
184110215283
18426864307
184334149312
184452111321
184511429332
18461571314
18472570276
18483300278
18492380285
18501862308

“I observed large spots, visible to the naked eye, in almost all the years not characterized by the minimum; the largest appeared in 1828, 1829, 1831, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1847, 1848. I regard all spots, whose diameter exceeds 50”, as large, and it is only when of such a size that they begin to be visible to even the keenest unaided sight.