June 15. Thunder storm, strong wind, heavy rain, accompanied with hail stones of such a size that injury would probably have been done to the crops were it not that the lower strata of air were so warm that the hail appeared to melt as soon as it reached the ground.Kinderhook. June 18. A destructive hail storm passed over the northeast part of this county, producing in some places a partial, in others a total destruction of fruit, grain, &c.; in some cases breaking window glass upon three sides of a house. The wind was during the time very variable, but the main direction of the storm was from N. W. to S. E., and its violent effects were felt for a number of miles in length and from one to three in breadth. The hail stones in this village were as large as chesnuts, and were said by persons from the places most devastated to be there as large as hen's eggs, and some still larger. Some of them were brought the day after the storm a distance of about twenty miles and shown in the village, and were at that time as large as black walnuts.-Lansingburgh. July 29. Two thunder storms in the evening and a very heavy one in the night, during which a barn seven miles south was struck.-Albany. August 7. An awful and tremendous thunder storm at WhitePlains, Westchester county, commenced at 6 P. M. In one hour and fifty minutes the river Bronx and the smaller streams rose twenty inches higher than was ever before known; the water completely inundated the valleys of the Bronx and of its various tributaries, sweeping away whole meadows of hay, cornfields, bridges, fences and sheep, uprooting large trees and destroying roads, and in fact, completely deforming the face of the cultivated country. Hay stacks and other property were destroyed by lightning. The rain was also very severe in Rockland county.--New-York American. August 18. During the night a very severe storm of rain commenced, which continued through the forenoon of the next day. During about twelve hours nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell, a greater quantity than has ever been observed in an equal length of time since the settlement of the place.-Cazenovia. August 26. A. M. A frost very thick upon the roofs of buildings, boards and other objects a few feet (2, 4 and 6,) above the surface of the earth.-Franklin. The month of August in this year was distinguished for an unusual quantity of water falling mostly in showers. The quantity which fell during a very severe thunder shower on the 9th, and particularly the rain which fell in the night of the 18th and the fore noon of the 19th, exceeded that of any former observation in this place. From the earth's having been completely saturated, and the streams more than usually filled by previous showers, the rain on the 19th produced an alarming and destructive flood, sweeping away bridges and fences, mills and mill dams, and the crops of the field within its reach. The canal through the city overflowed and inundated the lower part, covering streets and vacant lots with several inches of water, and filling the cellars and basement stories of many dwellings. The large embankment of the canal at the west end of the city yielded to the pressure of the water, and by thus opening a passage for the torrent into the Mohawk, severe damages to the city were probably prevented. The cholera commenced with an alarming attack on the 12th of August. Previous to this month the summer had been remarkably pleasant and delightful. There had been few rainy days, the heat had not been intense, and the atmosphere apparently possessed a mildness and softness which favored the rapid growth of vegetation. A period of better health has scarcely ever been known.-Utica. October 28, 29, 30. Indian summer.-Rochester. November 8. Snow at Cleaveland, Ohio; very early for this section of country. November 12. Snow at Lynchburgh, Virginia. HUDSON RIVER. March 5. The ice in the river broke up opposite Newburgh.— Newburgh. March 12. River opened about 10 P. M. at Poughkeepsie.-Dutch ess. December 31. The river not closed.-Dutchess. March 12. River open.-Hudson. December 22. River closed with ice.-Hudson. January 20. River open; January 26, closed again; March 12, open.-Lansingburgh. December 22, closed.-Ib. March 13. Ice broke up, river clear at Albany, but closed below. 99 days closed. Cold weather and a snow storm interposed. The first steam-boat (Constitution, capt. Hoyt,) came up March 25; 111 days closed.-Alba ny. ERIE CANAL. April 24. Navigation of the canal commenced for the season' December 20, closed; a few boats were run at short distances by cutting the ice, until the 25th.-Utica. GENESEE RIVER. Genesee river clear of ice, January 20.-Rochester. LAKE ERIE. Lake Erie cleared of ice May 1.-Rochester. May 9. First steam-boat from Buffalo to Dunkirk, a port 21 miles north of Fredonia-Fredonia. CAYUGA LAKE. February 24. Cayuga lake was frozen across opposite the village of Aurora. This is not known to have ever before occurred. It was crossed by several persons and chained. The width was found to be 3 miles and 33 rods.-Cayuga. OTSEGO LAKE. April 16. The ice left the lake.-Bridgewater. CANESERAGA OR LINCKLAEN LAKE. April 18. Ice out of the lake.-Cazenovia. (A.) MINERALOGY. Native Sulphate of Iron, discovered by the Principal on the farm of Mr. Gerard Crane. Carburet of Iron, at the same place; and also sulphur combined with a little copper. Bisulphuret of Iron, discovered at Kent, Putnam county. Quartz in crystals, on Long Pond mountain, about two miles from the Academy. Potter's Clay, found east of the Academy. Asbestus in Limestone, two miles west. At two miles east, a stone of about 100 tons, composed of granite, mostly stands upon a limestone pedestal. In the next return, a catalogue of the minerals in this vicinity will be given. North Salem |