at by Mr. Redfield and Sir Wm. Reid respecting the storms. of the North Atlantic Ocean; and might have been inferred from their results. But in order to avoid unnecessary assumptions, and to determine independently the laws of action of a cyclone on the barometer and thermometer in Great Britain, I have made a laborious and careful examination of all the fluctuations of aërial pressure and temperature along the western sea-board of Europe, from the year 1847 to the year 1856, inclusive. The materials for this investigation were kindly supplied to me at the rooms of the French Meteorological Society in Paris, and at those of the British Meteorological Society, by the respective Secretaries of these institutions.

On a horizontal scale of one-tenth of an inch to a day I have constructed for each year the meteorological curves at two or three stations, differing considerably in latitude; the barometrical curve, from two or more daily readings, and the curves of maximum and minimum daily temperature, on a scale of 20° F. to an inch.

The observations at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, and at Wakefield Prison, Yorkshire, being taken at intervals of six hours continuously, night and day, are good standards of comparison.

For the greater part of 1855 and 1856, I have drawn the simultaneous curves from daily observations at twelve stations of the British Meteorological Society, extending from Teignmouth, in Devonshire, to Elgin, in Scotland. To these are added the observations at the Orkney Islands, from the Philosophical Magazine. The direction and force of the wind were only copied in the case of well-marked aërial perturbations. This comprehensive series of graphic records of all the fluctuations of aërial density and temperature during ten consecutive years, constructed with care from the best available data, is the basis of my conclusions respecting British storms.

These curves prove that all the great non-periodic disturbances of our atmosphere are the effects of cyclones, of more or less violence; that the action of cyclones is remarkably uniform, and their extent enormous in comparison with the area of Great Britain.

In a report on the relation between explosion in coal-mines and revolving storms, published among the reports of the British Association for the year 1855, I have compared the dates of 74 explosions in 1852 with the meteorological curves for that year. I have since examined the meteorological conditions of the atmosphere connected with every fatal explosion on record, from the year 1757 to the end of 1856, amounting in all to about 750, and now proceed to give two or three examples of the mode in which this examination has been conducted, and shall take for this purpose examples which illustrate the nature of British cyclones, as well as shew their relation to coal mine explosions.

Since fatal explosions only are registered by the Government Inspectors of mines, and there is no record kept of the numerous cases where mines are surcharged with gas and no explosion ensues, it is clear that a large portion of the evidence. connected with my investigation is not available.

I shall be glad if my researches should have the effect of inducing managers of coal mines to study meteorology, and to pay more attention to the unfailing premonitory symptoms of coming danger, which are shewn by the barometer or thermometer, or, in many cases, by both.

The barometric indications for 1850, (see plate VII.) shew that several small cyclones passed over Great Britain between the 29th of October and the 12th of November; producing during all that interval a remarkably high temperature. The cyclone of the 3rd and 4th November was a smart hurricane at Liverpool, where the ships "Providence" and "Arcturus" were wrecked, and twenty-five lives lost. Near Holyhead two

All over England,

On the 11th

vessels were lost, and at Southport one. chimneys, walls, trees, &c., were damaged. November, there was an explosion in the Houghton pit, Newbottle, Northumberland, by which twenty-six lives were lost. It was stated at the inquest that "the men had been apprehensive for more than a week."

The central barometric depressions of two well-marked cyclones occur on the 19th and 24th, causing another period of about ten days of elevated temperature and greatly diminished atmospheric pressure. On the 19th the barometric depressions decrease both towards Scotland and France, shewing that the centre of the cyclone passed over England. This produced a great storm of wind both in France and Great Britain. A fatal explosion at the Emroyd pit, Wakefield, on the 19th, and another at Dawley, Shropshire, on the 25th, almost coincide with the times of least atmospheric pressure. Another explosion at the Victoria pit, Wakefield, on the 28th, was probably induced by this storm.

The passage of the warm south-western margin of a cyclone in the beginning of December, is recognized faintly by the barometer, but very distinctly by the thermometer. The temperature in Lancashire, from the 2nd to the 6th December, throughout both days and nights, is raised at least 20° F. Fatal explosions occurred at Oldham, on the 4th, at Wolverhampton on the 5th, and at St. Helens on the 7th.

The centre of another great cyclone passes on the 15th and 16th. At the Orkneys the winds are S., S.W., and N.W. in succession, and the barometric depression is greatest there. The rise of temperature is most marked at the southern margin,―at Versailles and Bordeaux. In England the baro. metric depression is nearly an inch-and-a-quarter, and the rise in temperature about 10° during several days and nights. The fatal explosions during the rest of December are immediately related to this cyclone-they occurred at Rowley

Regis, Staffordshire, on the 13th, at Aberdare, on the 14th, at Hindley, on the 17th, and at Wrexham, on the 21st.

The diagram for July, 1853, (see plate VI.) contains the best example I have met with of an extensive summer eyclone-its area having been quite equal to what was supposed by Sir W. Reid to be peculiar to our great winter storms. The local maximum barometric depression takes place simultaneously all the way from Oran, in Algiers, to the Orkneys; and decreases in both directions from England, where its central passage was marked by a great storm of wind, hail, thunder, &c., in which a screw-steamer from the Tyne foundered off Flamborough Head, on the 13th.

At Oran, the wind is westerly; at Versailles it shifts from S.W. to W.S.W. and N.W., and at the Orkneys the successive shifts of wind are E.S.E., E., and N.E. This example deserves the special attention of any one who has still any lingering doubt as to the cyclonic nature of British storms.

The fatal coal mine explosions during the passage of this cyclone, were on the 14th at Monkwearmouth, where six lives were lost; and two on the 16th, at Incehall, Wigan and at Bettws, in Wales.

The diagram for November, 1854, (see plate VI.) contains two well-marked cyclones, of which the first will be known in history as the Balaklava tempest. From the observations at any one station-as at Wakefield-it might be inferred that this cyclone belonged to the class which has its central track to the south of England, for the successive shifts of wind are E.S.E., E., and N.E., and the thermometer is little disturbed. The central barometrical depressions also decrease from the British Channel to the Orkneys. Its easterly course is implied by the winds having been first southerly and then northerly. These inferences have been completely verified by M. Liais, of the Imperial Observatory of Paris, who traced the passage of this storm with great care and accuracy, by

means of an immense number of observations made at stations spread over the whole of Europe, from the British Isles to the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea. Its passage over Britain occupied about six days, from the 12th to the 18th. On the 13th there was a fatal explosion at Dudley, on the 14th one at Cramlington, Northumberland, and the 15th, (the day of minimum atmospheric pressure,) is characterised by three fatal explosions-respectively at Bolton, at Dudley, and at Coalbrookdale, Monmouthshire. On the 16th there was a fatal explosion at Coatbridge, in Scotland.

No more fatal explosions are recorded until the arrival of the central depression of the second cyclone on the 22nd, when one occurs at Wrexham, and another at Burton-on-Trent. Before this cyclone leaves, there is another fatal explosion on the 24th at Kilmarnock, in Scotland, which is the last in the month.

FOURTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 16th April, 1860.

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair.

Mr. BROOKE, F.S.A., exhibited portions of lead pipe taken from the hot water apparatus in his residence, containing a thick deposit of sulphate of lime. He mentioned that the same kind of accumulation had been found elsewhere in Liverpool, where water, in a boiled state, passed through lead pipes. He also stated that the specimens he exhibited were taken up before the Rivington water had been introduced into Liverpool.