High promontories, and
elevated grounds, have always been observed to attract clouds and
disarm them of their mischievous contents, which are discharged
into the trees and summits as soon as they come in contact with
those turbulent meteors; while the humble vales escape, because
they are so far beneath them.
But, when I say I do not remember a thunder-storm from the south,
I do not mean that we never have suffered from thunder-storms at
all; for on June 5th, 1784, the thermometer in the morning being at
64, and at noon at 70, the barometer at 29, six-tenths one-half, and
the wind north, I observed a blue mist, smelling strongly of
sulphur, hanging along our sloping woods, and seeming to indicate
that thunder was at hand. I was called in about two in the
afternoon, and so missed seeing the gathering of the clouds in the
north; which they who were abroad assured me had something
uncommon in its appearance. At about a quarter after two the
storm began in the parish of Hartley, moving slowly from north to
south; and from thence it came over Norton-farm, and so to
Grange-farm, both in this parish.
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