37 in.; at Chichester, 32 in.; at London, 23 in.; at Norwich, 25 in.; at Ferriby, near Hull, 27 in.; at Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, 274 in.; at Nottingham, 23 in.

These different quantities show very clearly, that on the western side of England much more rain falls than on the eastern, or in the midland counties, where observations have been made. This may be accounted for, in a great measure, by the extraordinary quantity of moisture brought from the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, towards the western coast, by the winds from the s. w. and w., which prevail along this coast of our island. This moisture being attracted by the hills which run in this direction, both in Wales and in Lancashire and Westmoreland, causes a deposit greater than in any other part of our island. The hills of Cumberland and Westmoreland, with the great range between Yorkshire and Lancashire, arrest the progress of the clouds and currents of air, and deprive them of the superabundant quantity of rain which they contain. This aqueous deposit is often so complete, that on the western side of these hills the rain is copious, while on the opposite, or eastern, side the weather is either fine at no great distance, or the clouds are light and fleecy; while those on the western side were thick and loaded with moisture, before the attraction of the hills occasioned them to part with the water they held in solution. This I believe to be universally the case in mountainous districts; and I intend to apply it only to the explanation of the quantity of rain which falls in this district being greater than in any other part of England with which I am acquainted; at least, where observations have been long enough made with sufficient accuracy. The local circumstances of the town and neighbourhood have the chief influence in producing this effect.

It may not be improper, to notice the extraordinary adaptation of the soil to the large quantity of rain which falls here. A limestone soil, like ours, requires a large proportion of moisture, to preserve vegetation from the effects of drought in certain seasons of the year; and, on the contrary, were the soil of a clayey nature, the excess of rain above what would be requisite would soon manifest itself by the extreme humidity of the ground, which would, of course, be unfavourable in the opposite degree to vegetation, and be equally injurious to the health of the population. The adaptation of the soil to the extraordinary moisture is a source of gratitude to the bountiful Author of all our blessings.

The winds in this district, as I have before observed, are generally from the west. They prevail from this quarter and

When the wind is strong

the s. w. more than all the rest. from the latter point, or from the south, we have the greatest quantity of rain, and sufficient to occasion, very frequently, the river Kent to overflow its banks. The greatest floods usually originate in a wind from the south, which blows for a while from that quarter; and, as it moves to the west, the rain gradually subsides. The opposite points of the N. N. E. and E. are, with us, dry quarters; for, though we have occasionally rain with the wind from all these points, yet it seldom lasts long. Snow is almost invariably accompanied with a s.E. wind.

But little dependence, however, can be placed on observations on winds in this valley. And this remark will probably apply to most places situated in mountainous districts, as the eminences will most likely give a direction differing from its original one to any current of the atmosphere. This may be illustrated by the circumstance of our often meeting a current of wind in a street, which current has been deflected from its original direction by the intervention of the houses and other buildings. When the wind is long in the E. or N. E., the weather is invariably dry to an extreme. In the spring of the year, that is, in March, April, and May, we have, for some weeks together, a dry unhealthy current setting in from the N. E. During the prevalence of this wind the skin is dry and uncomfortable, the insensible perspiration being carried off more rapidly than usual; and, in consequence, invalids and persons inclined to pulmonary affections, suffer much from this English sirocco, as it resembles the sirocco in some of its effects, but differs from it in its being a cold wind. This is, perhaps, the only wind we have in this country which can properly be styled periodical, as it is so very markedly at this season of the year, and at no other. The winds of the torrid zone mostly blow in the same direction, or in opposite directions in stated periods; but this is not the case in the temperate zones. Here the direction of the wind perpetually varies; and " as changeable as the wind" is proverbial in this country. The evident irregularity of the winds has long perplexed philosophers to assign adequate causes for such variations; and, perhaps, little more can be advanced to this day than the very usual conclusion, that partial changes of temperature are the chief general causes of all winds.

While the barometer, in the torrid zone, seldom varies but in a trifling degree, in the temperate zone it is not less fickle than the wind. This indication of a loss of weight in the atmosphere can arise only from a local diminution of elasticity in this fluid. On this general ground, therefore, I conceive,

may be explained the cause of the only periodical wind which we have in this island: I mean that which prevails, generally, from about the middle of April to the 7th or 8th of May, and sometimes longer; as, for instance, in 1835, it prevailed till the 18th, which is later by several days than is usually the case. In Sweden and Norway, the face of the country is covered with snow till the middle of May, or longer. This frozen covering, which has been formed during winter, grows gradually shallower, to the 15th or 16th of May, or until the sun has acquired 17° or 18° of N. declination; while, on the other hand, the valleys and mountains of England have received an accession of temperature of 24° or 25°. On this account, when the temperature of Sweden and Norway is cooled down by snow to 32°, that of Britain is 24° or 25° higher than that of the preceding countries; because, while the ground is covered with snow, the rays of the sun are incapable of heating the air above 32° (the freezing point). For this reason, the air of England is 24° or 25° more heated than that of the before-mentioned countries. The air of Sweden and Norway will then, of course, by the laws of comparative specific gravities, displace that of England, and, from the relative situation of those countries with this country, will produce a N. E. wind. This current is usually stronger by day than by night, because the variation of temperature in the air of Great Britain is at that time the greatest, being frequently from 50° to 60° about noon, and sinking to about 32° in the night.

I do not submit this hypothesis as capable of determining the exact duration, or the existence, of this current of air during the whole of the period I have mentioned, but think it highly probable that it will account for a N. E. wind prevailing at this particular season, as observations prove that it does.

We have had much fewer Appearances of the Aurora Borealis than we have had for several Years past. One of the most remarkable occurred on Nov. 18. The source of the electric light was not confined to the north, but seemed equally diffused through the whole horizon; and the streams of light darted from almost every point of the compass to the zenith. The greatest quantity, during the time I observed it, issued from the s. E. by s. The streamers were not, in general, in compact streaks of light, but resembled sheets of steam highly illuminated; and, when they reached the zenith, they generally formed into a cloudy appearance, in shape similar to the cloud called the mare's tail. Several times imperfect streaks of light, of a more compact form, stretched across from west to

east, but never formed into complete bows. For a few days before this appearance, the weather was frosty; but after that, to the end of the month, we had no frost.

I have compared the facts which have transpired on the weather during the year 1835, with the prognostics in the weather table, now inserted in most almanacks, and have found that the theory there laid down does not generally apply to this district. In some instances, however, the predictions and the events have coincided most exactly. This table, which is stated to be "constructed upon philosophical consideration of the attraction of the sun and moon in their several positions respecting the earth," has been ascribed to the late Dr. Herschel, but, I believe, without foundation. That these luminaries should, by their attraction, occasion tides in the air, as well as in the waters of the ocean, there can be little doubt; and it is probable that they have a much greater effect in producing atmospheric changes than has been usually attributed to them.

We experienced a Shock of an Earthquake, about 3 hrs. 40′ A. M., on August 20. The motion was sufficiently violent to throw down objects that were but slightly supported, and to occasion windows and doors to shake, and to rouse many from their slumbers. Those persons who were awake at the time were alarmed at the unusual sensation, and describe the motion to be twofold; a lateral one, as though bodies were shaken from one side to another, accompanied by a quivering motion. The sound followed the trembling, and was not so much like the roll of distant thunder, as the noise occasioned by the rapid motion of a loaded cart or waggon at a short distance. The impression produced on such as were awake at the time, as well as on those who were awaked by the shock, was that of terror or alarm. From accounts since received, it appears not to have extended much further than Lancashire, and the western parts of Yorkshire, Westmoreland, the southern and western parts of Cumberland; and to have been bounded on the east nearly, if not exactly, by the great range of hills running from Cross Fell, Yorkshire, to Derbyshire; and to have been most severe in the south of Westmoreland and the north of Lancashire. The morning was unusually clear and serene, and the weather had been clear and sultry for three preceding days. In the evening, there was a great deal of lightning, and but little thunder heard. The following day (the 21st) was very sultry; and in the evening we had a severe thunder storm, and another in the evening of the 22d.

26th of the 2d Month (Feb.), 1836.

[The Appearances of the Instances of Aurora Borealis on Nov. 17, 18. 1835, seen at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.-The following particulars are taken from the Bury and Norwich Post of Nov. 25. 1835. They were splendid in a degree not only uncommon to our latitudes, but to our zone. "On the night of Nov. 17., the aurora was first espied at the north-east point of the horizon, and was of a pale reddish colour, but gradually extended its arch to the north-west, becoming a deep red, and exhibiting this magnificent appearance some time, without shooting out a single beam of visible light. On the evening of Nov. 18., the luminous arch was seen issuing from the edge of a dark cloud, reaching from the north-east to the north-west extremities of the horizon. The arch was of a pale colour, and every instant emitted waves and streamers of great brightness, which, ascending to the zenith, dissipated in space. The light in the northern atmosphere was fully equal to that of the moon at its first quarter. The evening was blustering, but clear, and the stars could be plainly discerned through the illumined vapour."

A most extraordinary Phenomenon in the Heavens [Clouds] was seen on Sunday se'nnight, between six o'clock and seven o'clock, at Chewton Mendip. It was the appearance of a regiment of horse with swords drawn, every trooper being distinctly visible, and the whole performing their evolutions in the field of battle, both horses and soldiers appearing perfectly black. The sight lasted for a considerable time. There are many recorded examples of similar sights, from Josephus down to the year 1745: at the latter time, phenomena of the same character, it is said, were seen in Scotland. (The Bath Herald, quoted in the Bury and Norwich Post of Oct. 14. 1835.)]

ART. VIII. Monthly Means of the Barometer and Thermometer, and Quantity of Rain, at Ashfield, near Falmouth, Cornwall, 1835. By LOVELL SQUIRE, Jun., Esq.