Feb. 13. 1749,50
You desire to know my Thoughts about the N.E. Storms beginning
to Leeward. Some Years since there was an Eclipse of the Moon at 9
in the Evening, which I intended to observe, but before 8 a Storm
blew up at N E. and continued violent all Night and all next Day, the
Sky thick clouded, dark and rainy, so that neither Moon nor Stars
could be seen. The Storm did a great deal of Damage all along the
Coast, for we had Accounts of it in the News Papers from Boston,
Newport, New York, Maryland and Virginia. But what surpriz'd me, was
to find in the Boston Newspapers an Account of an Observation of that
Eclipse made there: For I thought, as the Storm came from the N E. it
must have begun sooner at Boston than with us, and consequently have
prevented such Observation. I wrote to my Brother about it, and he
inform'd me, that the Eclipse was over there, an hour before the
Storm began. Since which I have made Enquiries from time to time of
Travellers, and of my Correspondents N Eastward and S. Westward, and
observ'd the Accounts in the Newspapers from N England, N York,
Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, and I find it to be a constant
Fact, that N East Storms begin to Leeward; and are often more violent
there than farther to Windward. Thus the last October Storm, which
with you was on the 8th. began on the 7th in Virginia and N Carolina,
and was most violent there.
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