Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23

attributed to cbce Now the reality Of passage Of
disturbing cuse on the I'D Of August has been dis
pued andS vortex returns average intervals of the
moons ~deria period. it would appropriate
10 et.ne predictions still apply the next passage
Dect to the state Of the atmosphere the time The
same vortex is passing ascending this ATTITUDES
at least the Effects palpabe yellow bank Of heavy
cumuli wind blowing strong gale from the south, and
the sky looks squay, (September 9th, p. NJ Well
sir, this vortex will pass descending in latitude
400 the evening of the 18th Of September although
its effects win probably not be developed until the follow
ing night, squall Of wind from the northward 1t is
as sure to the is to rise and squalls will no
doubt be observed along and the central line pas
but the force in given locality is yet uncertain.
VIII hrst appear cloudy space in the northern sky
ana watched will spread to the southwark have
before stated that why selected this vortex
inner descendng) Of its comparative
isolation when on latitude 40o The same popularity
makest ats approach at the ascending near la
utude 4O, equally distinct The first descending
however, frequently passes the next day. and departure
IS less readily observed Its next ascending passage will
be early In the morning Of the I'd October and will plain
y come from the SOUTH it is usually preceded by two
three days Of fine weather 1t will be nearly central
at Washington. On the morning Of the Goth belt Of
clouds may be visible In the north passing south After
passing south the clouds will chiefly affect the southern
sky This will be due to the second inner vortex de-
scendng which passes the morning Of the 29th though
not very On the Goth September on the Goth
mud October 1st there win be evidence of the pre-
sence Of vortex except that each day the clouds viii
affect the southern sky than the northern On tho
first of October Of clouds may be thrown off to-
wards the NORTH and cirrus will form and thcken
with the wind south southwest turning to the north
west with the approach of the first outer descending
Concerning the predictions prepared for the committee
have been unlucky in not being at present able to
such general drought During such time the pas
sages only partially give directive force to the winds
and effect the temperature. You remember also
that the phenomenon is very largo scale, and to
verify the predictions fully the observer should have the
power of viewing it from places widely the
same day. If it were always weldefned phenomenon
like the position of comet its discovery would not have
been for the nineteenth century AS is there
IS more merit in the discovery.
You perceive that this is an astronomical theory
Whether make further advances without assistance
know not. What have done has cost the world no.
I'D Seneca Il quote from memory:) I" Mehercnes aut
aut utilius non aud queserit guam do
tellavum siderumque natura"
With respect to your suggestion Of producing the
heory in practical shape for tho sailor say that
although it might pay, have scruples about it, 1t is
imperfect and the predictions would have to be ham
,ered with nconvenent rules and qualifications which
many navigators would pay attention to, and they
night be led into trouble ought to be enabled to view
hese passages in other ATTITUDES to make the geometcal
ar perfect then by systematic Of observations
he purely physical part would be developed So far
AVE had to depend my own observations solely and
hese quite of sporadic character but be assured the
heory is true and its details nearly So whilst its prac-
al value has not been exaggerated
Yours, truly,
THOS. BASSNETT