Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-16
TO THE EDITORS.

GENTLENEs Circumstances often force befor
the public against their will at least this is my
present About weeks since received copy Of tn
nteigencer of August LAY containing certain prediction
Of the weather for the city Of Washington Again. abou
week afterwards received another containing certain
structures these predictions by model professor
inductiye philosophy named Beta and in another
Der of August 25h) notice editorial article aludn
to these Illinois predictions of great storm between thu
2lst and 23d If you do not consider the subject already
too STALE perhaps your of justice may induce yor
to indulge by inserting the following explanation.
Although no names were mentioned in the articles al
luded to- it is yet we'll understood who has to saddle thu
responsibility. is true have been preparing predic
tons of the weather for scientific committee but thu
predictions in question not intended test, mol
for publication. They merely designed as an illus
raon Of what was to be Observed and sent in advance
to friend Of the authors that the observations might
afterwards be inserted side by side with the predictions
in the paper prepared for the committee This paper
contains predictions for four consecutive months but
they made to certain contingencies to be ap
piled by the observer at the tme which rules also apply
to the isolated predictions of the 2lst 3D. 23d instant
felt sorry that they published being liable to
misinterpretation. never anticipated great storm
predicted the passage of disturbing cause, and these
passages frequent the intervals never being greater
than four five days; sometimes they are central at
others not sometimes the atmosphere is favorable and at
others the contrary-he effect produced by passage
having every shade of intensity between threatening
sky and the fury of q hurricane.
II had anticipated the publication of that prediction
would selected another case far more likely to
produce q storm such for instance, as produced
by the conjunction of ascending and descending vor-
tex on the 18th August in latitude 49, and which walked
he town OF
Kentucky My object in selecting the other case was
simply because it was SINGLE and consequently its course
could be better observed and also because it de-
scending vortex for the common opinion is that all dis
turbances travel from the equator towards the polesa
position wished to contest. ~..a. .. II.
But did know that such storm would occur at Louis
vile? Emphatically The theory gives the approx
mate latitude of the passage given meridian, and ut
present leaves the Interpretation to the observer at the
time If had been at the latitude and longi-
tude of such close conjunction should certainly have
advised bright lookout. The great gale of September
7th of last year. which swept the Atlantic with the
bosom of destruction owing to this identical conunc
ton; and there is probably many proud vessel now
afoat doomed to battle unsuccessfully with these
vortexes ut the time Of their next conjunction the 25h
of this coming September Luckily the passages will be
made about three degrees apart the meridian Of Hat
eras, which is about the middle latitude. Still there
may be no storm. If the lightning falls upon the dry
wthered prairie confagration follows; if the grass is
green no such effect is produced There is yet much
learn. The atmosphere easily permeabe by the ethereal
fluid of space the withered prairie where the contra
ry obtains, vortex in passing fails to make sensible
impression and did the barometer beay its presence
there would be no evidence of its passage.
Again. let the atmosphere be favorable and all
the forests fire from Maine Georgia. storm would
follow without vortex passing So says the thee
ry Another theory says few of burning timber
will produce storm. The experiment could easily be
tried just now; the weather is SO dry .,...,
The predictions in question made in July last,
long before the drouth set in yet who every passage
plainly marked the atmosphere remains unimpressbe
What is the of this drouth The theory is not
yet sufficiently advanced to this but it is plainly
within its province do Any clue to such mo-
mentous inquiry is Of value. For many years past Gov
have incurred great expense and individuals
have abored to discover such clue Yet out of chaos
of materials effects only and not have been eim
mated. Let apply the theory to such fact the
great fruit of magnetic observations viz that the dstur
Dances greater in December and January than in the
opposite months for beth hemispheres This theory
ers these magnetic disturbances the solar rada stream
whose force is cey the 25 power of the distances
But Beta in his zeal to promote proper association
of philosophy theory, and fact" nothing but
speculaons in the theory, shadow without sub
stance and will not follow its lead. l once fondy
dreamed that it eminently theory of facts,
ducing oil phenomena to simple mechanical basis; but
there is bug bear in the way. I'D.
l cannot conclude without thanking your correspon
dent for his generosity lie gratuitousy warns all theo
rsts of the miserable fate awaiting them for it
they destined to die like other men, but must all
go down alive into the pit like Korah, Dathan and Abb
But will not complain; / bide my time. Such
taunts do not now, for know positively that
the dream is certain and the Interpretation thereof
sure" and that in the end truth will prevail.
THOS. BASSNETT.
The Paris Mnniteur contains a rennrt the Emnernr