Communications Volume 02, 1785-1810

Transcriptions
(in progress)

Samuel L. Mitchill, Observations on Rainbows known as sun-dogs


{{25 Aug 90}} [in pencil
{{S L Mitchill}} [in pencil]
Meteorological Remarks and Conjectures:

On the morning of the eighth day of May 1790, there appeared at Hamstead a remarkable Circle around the Sun. The East was somewhat overspread with thin clouds when the Sun rose and very soon after three Parhelia were visible, one on each side and one directly above him. They were equidistant from the Sun, which was their common Centre. At first they appeared like luminous Spots, in no respect differing from the common phaenomena of that kind observed by Philosophers and the People and known by the names of Sun-dogs, Mock-suns, and Weather-balls. After a short time the uppermost dilated and lengthened so much as to describe an Arch of thirty degrees, and exhibited beautifully and distinctly the Rainbow-colours. Soon after this, the clouds underwent a small change, the effect of which was, that the Curves enlarged toward the northward Spot, so as to join it and extend beyond it, and describe more than ninety Degrees. The Bow then extended toward the southward Spot, untill [sic] a junction was formed with it and continued below it: So that the three Parhelia were connected by the intervening Iris, whose Extremities approximated on the lower side untill [sic] they lacked only forty degrees of compleating the Circle.

These appearances lasted several Hours and were beheld by many People untill [sic] as the splendour of the Sun increased toward Nine of the Clock before noon, the brightness of the colours was effaced and they assumed the ordinary form of a Halo. See the Figure.

[Described Illustration]

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Not long afterward, the clouds suffered some alteration, and in consequence a Rainbow sometimes partially and sometimes wholly encompassed the Sun, with very vivid Colours untill [sic] about mid-day when the Weather became quite clear.

On the twenty first day of April this same year, a Rainbow appeared round the Sun, and was discovered by the following accident. I was riding on horseback along the foot of a Hill, where much water issued from the Springs and settled in the depressions and hollows of the Path. The water was exceedingly clear, the Air very calm and the Sky somewhat cloudy. As I looked down toward the Earth, I saw the Rainbow Colours around the Sun, distinctly and fairly reflected from the Surface of the Water; when on turning my Eyes upward, I found it impossible to discern and distinguish them on account of the intolerable Effulgence. But on viewing the water again and again a similar appearance was evident for the duration of half an Hour.

And on the morning of January 19. 1790, the Colours were in like manner distinguishable between the hours of eight and nine at Brooklyn, plainly expressive of the circular disposition.

[Illustration]

From these Premises may we not reasonably conjecture that a perfect Rainbow can be formed between the Sun and the Spectator? Is not the Iris in such Cases frequently an intire [sic] Circle? Do not these Rainbows, as they become faint and obscure, exhibit the Phenomena of Parhelia before they vanish? Would it be unphilosophical to suppose they could be more frequently seen if the excessive brightness of the Sun’s Rays did not disqualify the Eye for discriminating of Colours? Cannot
all the

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all these appearances be referred to a single Principle and explained thereby? Let us make the Attempt.

It is a Truth manifest to all who have noticed the fields in the Country on a Spring-morning that Dew-drops divide the Sun-beams and exhibit their component Colours to the [underline] eastward [end underline] as well as to the [underline] westward [end underline] of the beholder; and in fact, the prismatic appearances present themselves to him which way soever he looks. But they are not so beautiful and distinct on the side toward the orient Sun, as on the opposite, because the Eye is too much dazzled to discern them. The Colours however do not the less exist on that account. Here then is a fact capable of elucidating the whole Phenomenon. When a certain number of watry [sic] particles in the form of a sparse Cloud intercept the solar Rays in the upper Regions of the Atmosphere, they effect a change in them, exactly similar to that wrought by the Dew-drops. It is also a fact, known to all observers that Nature according to a [standing] Law paints Rainbows of a circular figure invariably, even on the dewy cobwebs spread among the Grass. That the Iris should therefore assume a like shape in the Clouds may be reasonably expected from the analogy of the other Cases. Thus it seems that these Phenomena are referable to the same General laws of Nature with the ordinary Rainbow, altho’ hitherto deemed exceptions, and tried to be solved upon other Principles.

I confess I never was intirely [sic] pleased ^with the Newtonian Theory of the Rainbow: and am now disposed to believe more than ever, that, like Æpinus’s Theory of Magnetism, it is contrived ingeniously to apply to the Phenomena, without explaining them. If there is a magnetic fluid, according to Æpinus, that fluid moving in the Lines which he has described, may accompany the Load-Stone and even occasion its peculiar
qualities

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qualities: but the magnetic phenomena are not altered a whit, if no such fluid exists. So if Light is a fluid as Newton thought, and moves along the lines he has chalked out, then ^the facts so far, do not contradict the Theory: but the whole Theory may be false, while the phænomena remain the same.

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Vol. 02, p. 38

Oliver Fiske to Jeremy Belknap, 1792 August 13


Worcester, Augt 13th 1792

Revd & Hond Sir

Though personally a Stranger to you, yet knowing your character as a Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, I take the liberty to transmit to you some extraordinary facts in the natural Mystery of the Dog – part of which I was personally witness to [text lost] the whole may be relied on as authentic.

Should you think the enclosed merits a place in the memoirs of the Academy, by communicating it you will oblige Sir your

friend and hble sert
O. Fiske

Revd. Jeremy Belknap D.D.

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Mr. [Fiske’s] Letter

Read 14 Novr. 1792.

[sideways]

Revd. Jeremy Bilknap [sic] D.D.
Boston

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Vol. 02, p. 38e

Oliver Fiske, [Mysterious case of the dog, 1792 August 13]


A cat, belonging to Dr Willard of Uxbridge, a few days after having a litter of kittens was killed by a large house-dog, instigated by ill nature and his natural antipathy to this domestic animal. The kittens, apprised of their loss by hunger, began their incessant moans. Being too young to be fed, the children of the family, to whom they were dear, could afford them nothing but their caresses and condolance [sic]. These however did not long suppress their cries.

A small bitch, who for a few years had been a quiet inhabitant with the cat, soon appeared affected with their distress and attempted to approach them, but was frequently repulsed with severity by the children, who thought her also hostile to their favourite kittens. However so importunate was the bitch, that for their safety they removed them to an

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obscure part of a chamber. But her compassion was not thus easily suppressed nor her vigilance eluded, for a short time after upon their visiting the kittens they discovered that she had found their retreat and was performing the most tender duties of a MOTHER!

The kittens now became more quiet. From this time the bitch regularly and fondly nourished them as her own offspring, and the kittens never appeared to distinguish her from their natural mother.

However extraordinary the above account may appear, it may perhaps be considered [strikethrough] much [end strikethrough] still more wonderful and curious, that the kittens should obtain nourishment, as the bitch had not given [strikethrough – illegible] ^suck to her own young except about [underline] two years [end underline] before.

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Vol. 02, p. 74

Letter from Jedidiah Morse to Eliphalet Pearson, 1798 August 22; Charlestown, [MA].


Charlestown Augt. 22nd 1798

Sir,

Enclosed is a Bill of Mortality for the town of Charlestown; to which I have prefixed such a description of the town as I thought necessary to the forming of an opinion of its comparative advantages & disadvantages in point of health; & have annexed some explanatory remarks. A considerable part of the materials for these Bills was furnished by Dr. Josiah Bartlett, the Physician of this town, who has been in the habit of keeping a correct account of the [underline] births [end underline] & [underline] deaths [end underlinee] within the limits of his practice. His Bill of Mortality, I have carefully compared with my own, & with one kept by another gentleman of observation & accuracy, so that I conceive, the

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Bills are in all [double strikethrough] points as accurate [end double strikethrough] respects as correct as could be desired.

If similar communications were made from different parts of our country, a mass of materials would, in a course of years, be collected, from wh[ic]h a skillful person might compile tables, with accompanying remarks, which would shew the prevalent diseases in the United States―the probable causes of the prevalence of different diseases in different places, [double strikethrough] at [end double strikethrough] in the several seasons of the year―the natural increase of inhabitants ―the comparative healthfulness of the several towns & larger districts of the United States &c. & in general the probability of the continuance of life in the several States.

With great respect & esteem
I am your most 
Obdt. Servt.
Jedh. Morse

Professor Pearson,
Cor. Secy. to the Amer. Acad. of Arts & Sciences.

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Vol. 02, p. 75

[Jedidiah Morse to Eliphalet Pearson,] A Bill of Mortality, and of the Births, Marriages and Baptisms, for the Town of Charlestown, (Massachusetts) for the years 1789-1797, both inclusive; To which is prefixed a description of the Town.


Charlestown is a maritime town of an irregular form, extending 7 ¼ miles in a N.N.W. and S.S.E. direction, of unequal breadth; on an average about one mile. The scattered inhabitants in the northern part of the town, consisting of about a tenth part of the whole number, are set off to the Parishes in the adjoining towns, and are not included in the following bills.

The compact part of the Town is on a Peninsula, of a pyramidical [sic] form, the base of which is Charles River, about one mile and a quarter in length, and about half a mile in breadth. On this Peninsula (including about a dozen houses without the neck which belong to the Parish) are about 260 houses, all (three excepted) of wood; there was but about half the number of houses in 1789. There is but one house for public worship in the Town, and that for Congregationalists, situated near the Bridge. N. Lat: 42˚..23'..26". There are three Rope-walks on the Peninsula, an Almshouse, one rum distillery, a dye house, two Tallow Chandleries, Four slaughterhouses, six or eight Tanneries and leather dressers works; the slaughter houses and leather dressers works are situated on tide water, and, in general, attention is paid to their cleanliness.

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The number of Inhabitants will be best ascertained from the list of rateable polls inserted among the following tables.

The Peninsula is connected on the South with Boston by a bridge 1500 feet in length, over Charles river; on the north it is joined to the main by a narrow artificial neck, or isthmus, which, at high water, in spring tides, is but a few rods wide. on the east it is washed by Mystic, a saltwater river, two or three hundred rods wide. to the South east spreads Boston bay and harbour; to the S.W. another broad bay, which receives Charles river, and projects northward along the west side of the town. Across the northern  part of this bay a darn was thrown many years ago, and mills erected upon it, which were destroyed with the town in 17751 ―but have been lately rebuilt. the extensive body of marsh, which in consequence of this dam, is kept longer overflowed, being salt, occasions no smell offensive smell, and operates no injury to the health of the Inhabitants.

Besides being encompassed with tide water, the Peninsula is in other respects well situated for health, being open to the sea and land breezes and charmingly

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diversified with gentle hills which overlook Boston, its harbour and Islands, and the adjacent Town in every direction; and has neither stagnant waters nor offensive marshes.

The Town is intersected by eleven irregular streets, besides lanes and alleys: the main street, which is 50 feet wide and paved, runs through the center of the Town, north and south from the bridge to the neck. on this street, within a few rods of the bridge is a sparrow Square, Surrounded with handsome houses and stores. The water in the numerous wells in the town is pure and good. The trees were all destroyed with the town in 1775. many have been since planted, but are yet small and not [thirsty]. In the months of April and May, easterly winds prevail, which are chilly, unelastic [sic], and fraught with sea vapours, and are disagreeable and depressing to all, and pernicious to invalids, to such especially as are afflicted with bilious and hectic complaints, which are the most prevalent diseases in the town. The inhabitants are subject to no endemical [sic] diseases. Scarcely a year passes without several instances, in the months of August, September & October, of malignant bilious fevers; but these have generally happened in the neighbourhood of

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slaughter houses, or leather dressers work shops, where there is more or less of putrid matter.

At those periods when the Small-pox has visited Boston, this town has shared in the same calamity. the last time it prevailed was in the year 1792 in the months of September & October, when 1352 persons were inoculated, of whom nine died. twelve took the disease the natural way, of which number five died. of the whole number inoculated 879 were inhabitants of the town, the others were persons from the vicinity who availed themselves of so favourable an opportunity of taking the disease by inoculation.

The destruction of the Town in 1775 reduced many of its inhabitants to great straits and difficulties and very considerably increased the number of its poor. how far this circumstance, connected with that depression of spirits, which is ever the effects of a sudden loss of one’s all in this world, may have operated to increase the bills of mortality cannot be determined.

Charlestown Feby. 9th, 1798―

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Vol. 02, p. 76


[Jedidiah Morse], Bill of Mortality for Charlestown, (Massts) that part of it which lies within the Rock or within the limits of the Parish, for the years 1789, 1790, 1791,1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796 & 97., ca. 1798

Bill of Diseases.

In Charlestown from the year 1789 to 1797, both inclusive

Diseases
Apoplexy
Atrophy
Cancer
Canker
Cholera Dysenterica
Consumption
Convulsions
Dentition
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Dropsy
Erysipelas
Fits
Fevers (Bilious, Inflammatory, Nervous, Puerperal, Putrid)
Fistula in Ano
Gangrene
Gout
Haemoptisis2
Hepatitis
Hernia
Hooping Cough
Hydrocephalus
Influenza
Lues Venerea
Measles
Old Age
Palsy
Phthisis Pulmonalis
Phrenitis
Quinsey, Still born
Scarlatina Anginosa
Scrofulus
Small Pox
Sudden
Worms
Casualties (Drowned, Fall, Frozen, Overlaid, Poisoned, Suffocated)
Dead Abroad
Unknown

Total each year

Remarks. About one quarter part of the whole number who have died have, it appears, died of [underline] hectic [end underline] complaints.

An Account of the Rain that fell in six years, each year, each month, and the average on each period viz} By Joseph Bassell Esq. of Charlestown

[Table]

[underline] Remarks [end underline]

Mr. Barrell’s house near which is his Rain Gauge, is well situated to determine the quantity of water that falls, it being elevated about 60 feet above high water marks, & is distant from any other houses, so that no water can fall into the Gauge but that which comes directly from the clouds. The water in the Gauge was measured generally as soon as the rain was over, so that none might go off in Evaporation.

Mr. Barrell’s Rain Gauge measures to the 1/1000th part of an inch, as a 1000 lines make one Inch.

Nothing is allowed for the snows which fell in Winter. The water in these may amount perhaps to an average of 6 or 7 inches annually.

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Bill of Ages

[Table: Depicts the age at which people died for 1789-1797 and the total deaths for each year]

Remarks.

It appears that 138 out of 325 (the total no. of deaths ^ +5 of these young men died abroad.) were under the age of 5 Years or about 2/5th of ye Whole; And that 43, or nearly 1/8 of ye whole were upwards of 70 years old.

Monthly Bill

[Table: How many people died per month each year for 1789-1797]

Note. August, September, October & December are the most fatal months. The year of the greatest mortality, (1796) but little more than half the quantity of rain fell as in the year preceeding, & considerably less than in any of the 9 years included in this Table.

[Table: Lists number of Births, Marriages, Baptisms and Rateable Polls (i.e. Males from 16 years old & upwards in the whole town) each year for 1789-1797]

[underline] Remarks. [end underline] As this Bill comprehends that part of Charlestown only which lies within the neck (or more properly within the [underline] Parish, [end underline] which includes a few families without the neck,) there must be a deduction, say of about 10 pr. cent from the no. of [underline] rateable Polls [end underline] in order to reduce that article within the limits of the others.

The no. of Polls to the whole no. of inhabitants in 1790 was as 1 to 4 ½. The proportion since, owing to a great accession of mechanics &c. is thought to ^ have been about as 1 to 4.  Admitting these [underline] data [end underline] to be just it appears that on an average for 9 years 1 in about 45 of ye inhabitants have died. The natural increase of ye Parish for 9 years has been 251.

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Bill of Mortality for Charlestown (Masstts.) that part of it which lies within the Neck or within the limits of the Parish.

For the years

1789, 1790, 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97.

No. 3

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Vol. 02, p. 122

Letter from Ignatius Thomson to Adams, Pomfrey, VT

[underline] Honored Sir: [end underline]

[in pencil] 31 Jan 1810 [end pencil]

The first instance on which the Aurora Borealis particularly [ill. due to ink spot]cted my attention, and led me more particularly to observe its appearance and operations occurred more than two years since. The singular appearance it then made, owing as I have reason now to believe, to my local situation, gave rise to the following positions on the Subject.  

One-evening past after I had called on a friend in Hanford, a shower passed over, as is common after a very warm day; this was succeeded by a clear sky, except a thin mist, such as usually arise in a summer evening after a rain. The house of my friend was situated nearby on the height of land on the South Side of White River; the mist which arose asscended [sic] as near as we could judge two third the distance to the height of the land on the opposite side of the River; there it nested on a level; The light of the Aurora Borealis first appeared to be at some distance beyond the opposite height, it appeared to approach nearer, and arise over the hill, and settle down to the surface of the mist; there it remained continuously shooting up red streams in varying places with great velocity, the River commanded a light because of wind up the Stream, which moved the light slowly; [We viewed] it perhaps an hour and an half, till the winding of the river presented any farther observation of importance.  

The observations which I have since made, as opportunity has presented have confirmed me in the correctness of the above statement; On which I would hazzard [sic] the following positions.  

1st. When the moisture of the surface of the earth, as the rain fallen, feels a comparative warmth to that of [super] ambient atmosphere, the particles of water become inflated, and on the principle of the balloon rises till it finds the same circumambient state of the atmosphere; there it remains till it becomes condensed, by losing in a comparatively colder region,: that warmth which first raised it. This mist we may always observe forms a margin below the Aurora Borealis, and sometimes bears a resemblance to a distant land.  

2 When the Sun has retired, and the mist has arisen, the atmosphere is growing colder, and when the degrees of cold are so moderately increasing that it does not cause the mist to disist [sic] the more condensed atmosphere above presses on the more rarified, that contains the mist: the action of these two different states of the atmosphere on each other produces the phenomenon called the Aurora Borealis. While the more condensed is pressing downward, the more rarified is pressing upward; the friction caused by passing each other, produces the light which appears; the greater the difference between the respective States of these two bodies of air, the more violent the force, consequently the greater the velocity; this gives the light a brighter appearance.

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3rd We observe, that this appearance always approaches on from the north, some time passes over our head, and shines in the south; for this, we would account on the same principle already laid down, the atmosphere always begins to be condensed to ward the [ill.], and then makes its way toward a lower or warmer latitude.  

Query may not the light from the Sun be demonstrated from the same principle.  

Ignatius Thomson

Pomfret (Ver).

[in another hand
Thomson’s Letter to Revd Adams 
Read Jan 31, 1810 
[underline] not to be bound [end underline

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Endnotes

  • 1

    The town was destroyed in June 1775 by a fire resulting from the Battle of Bunker Hill.

  • 2

    Hemoptysis