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6.54 inches; the least fall in any month, 02 inches, in April 1852. The longest drought that has been experienced during the 34 years, 1850-83, commenced with October, 1857, and continued until the end of April, 1858, the rainfall of the seven months being only 3.52 inches in 44 days. The longest period of continued and frequent heavy rains, was during the last three months of 1882, when 13.56 inches fell on 65 days, equal to an annual fall of 54 24 inches on 260 days. Calling attention to the facts and figures here given, with regard to droughts and floods, and bearing in mind the increased drainage that has taken place during the last 25 years, we may be permitted to ask, Are the agricultural and other interests prepared to face, without serious inconvenience, another drought similar to the

seven

months above referred to, or a series of ten dry years equal to the decade 1850-59, when the average was only 17.552 inches against 23.290 inches during the following ten years, and 26.206 inches The wetness of the from 1870 to 1879. last four years is shewn by a marked increase in the average to 29.23 inches; the observations, from 25 years average 1858-82, taken at York Parade, Beverley Road, is 26.42 inches on 182 days. Mr. Peak's average at the Park, for the last 17 years, is 30.07 inches.

The following Table shows the distribution of the Rainfall in the four quarters of the year, on the average of the 30 years, 1850 to 1879: Inches. Days.

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Inches. Days.

2.160 10 16/30
July
August
2.655 12 6/30
II 25/30
Sept. 2.343
7.158 34 17/30
October 2123 14 1/30
Nov.
2'141 14 20 30
Dec.
1914 14 8/30

6.178 42 29 30

13:336 77

16/30

9'012+13336 22 348. Annual Average Rainfall. 73 29/30+77 16/30 151 15/30. Number of days.

are

And now, in conclusion, we will offer a
which observations may be usefully ex-
few remarks suggesting the direction in
tended. At present, all the observers
in the N.W. part of the town,
within half to three-quarters of a mile
of each other c'est a dire, Spring Bank,
York Parade, the Park, and Derringham.
The returns of these four observers for
1882,
vary as follows:-

Spring Bank.... ·30′94 on 180 days.
.33.28,, 216 39

York Parade. Derringham Park

....

·33'91,, 205

35 60,, 204

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The average of the 18 stations in the East Riding, not including Hull, for 1882, is 36.01 inches. Seeing the great difference between the Spring Bank and the Park, both in the amount of rain and the number of days, we are curious to know what is the rainfall of the eastern and northern parts of the Borough, and will therefore venture to repeat the suggestion that additional guages be placed at the

several stations named.

more.

Few towns of equal size but what have more raingauges than Hull, whilst many much less in area and importance have as many or Thus, Boston has four, Lincoln wherever you find waterworks or resereight, Nottingham eleven, and further, voirs, locks or pumping stations, there you find the rain-guage placed as a kind of tell-tale.

Besides those instruments already named, there is another important one, alhough somewhat costly, which we are of opinion the Third Port should possess, that is, a firstclass self registering anemometeror wind-guage, and this proposition, we think, the terrific gale or rather hurricane of the 11th and 12th of December last, will have Many were the done much to support. enquiries on the following day as to what What it was in the pressure had been. Hull will never be known. We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Hartnup, the Director of the Corporation Observatory, Liverpool, in being able to state that there the greatest pressure was 71 pounds per square foot at 2-45 a.m. on the 12th. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the maximum pressure was only 26 pounds at 1-10 a.m., shewing

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the pillar of cloud of the Exodus. It rose vertically from the horizon where the sun had just disappeared, to an altitude of six or eight degrees as a rose-coloured pillar of cloud, and from letters which appeared in Nature, was seen from Bath and other places. In Nature, of the 3rd of May, a representation is given of one. seen from Sidemouth on the 4th April, 1871.

The phenomena of the Autumn were the so called splendid sunsets and sunrises, first observed by the writer on the afternoon of Sunday the 25th of November, and on several successive evenings. From the very general diffusion of these remarkable illuminations of the eastern and western skies over the whole globe, we strongly incline to the opinion expressed by two eminent astronomers, that the cause was either volcanic or meteoric dust, an opinion to some extent confirmed by the similarity, on examination between dust found in snow in Spain, and rain in Holland.

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ON THE DEATH OF AN OLD CRIMEAN GENERAL.

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By EDWARD LAMPLOUGH.

THE earth is glad with the breath of May,
Born again from the old decay!
Young soldiers dream of a future fair,
Of laurels green, of the sword made bare!
While bronzéd veterans praise the Lord,
For the reign of peace-the sheathed sword!
On Crimean plains the grass grows strong,
Where the dead have rested well and long-!
With folded hands, and with death-closed eyes,
In his youth's fair home an old man lies!
Young men whisper, and old men mourn,
O'er skill and strength that shall ne'er return!
No matter! the old man's work was done
With boom of the Redan's latest gun!
Yet young is the earth, as when he prest,
Long years ago, his mother's breast!
Old banners are worn to rags since then-
The soil is rich with the blood of men!
New flags are woven to lead the van-
The nation lacketh not steel or man.
Sweet is the breath of the early May,
Born again of the old decay!
Nothing is lost of valour or strength,
Though heroes go to their rest at length !
But while Albion holds or strength or fame,
Her youth shall honour the old man's name!

THE JOHNSON

MSS. CORRESPONDENCE.

COLLECTED AND ARRANGED BY THE Editor.

ΤΗ

HE following Correspondence, which is here reprinted from the columns of our local newspapers, &c., may be useful to the historian of the future, in throwing some light upon the vexed. question whether the Johnson MSS. are genuine or spurious.

This Correspondence extends over eight years, and the public are now as far from knowing the truth as when "Hull Celebrities" was first published.

The sources whence the letters, &c., are taken, are given together with the date of publication.

The Johnson MSS. were published in the early part of the year 1876, under the title of "Sketches of Hull Celebrities;

or,

Memoirs and Correspondence of Alderman Thomas Johnson, (who was twice Mayor of Kingston-upon-Hull) and Four of his Lineal Descendants, from the year 1640 to 1858. The whole compiled and arranged for publication by Mr. William A. Gunnell, from ancient MSS. furnished him by the last surviving member of the Johnson family. To which is added a voluminous Glossary, affording an explanation of the obscure, antiquated, provincial, and obsolete terms. Printed by Messrs. Walker and Brown, Scale Lane, Hull: And Published by Mr. William Anderson Gunnell, Leonard St., in the same Borough, MDCCCLXXVI.," 8vo., Pp. xx-515.

Contents: Dedication (to the Mayor and Corporation of Hull); Introduction, pp. v-ix; List of Subscribers, pp. x-xvi, (last blank); List of Vignettes and Plates, pp. xvii-xviii (last blank)' Errata, pp. xix-xx, (last blank); Ye Towne o' Kyngestone-upon-Hvll, Ase ytte ys yn ye Yeere 1640, pp. 1-500; Glossary, pp. 501-510, (last blank); Index, pp. 511-515.

"With a book of this sort," says a reviewer in the Eastern Morning News, June 17, 1876, "the first and great question is its truth. Assured of this, the book becomes of great value. Now we do not

say these manuscripts have been entirely written within the last few years, but we doubt that they were written at the period alleged. Meagre outlines may be formed at the dates they bear, but we think it not difficult to discover that a hand, guided by a modern mind, has touched them up and added to them," though Mr. Gunnell, in his "Introduction," says that "These rich and humorous documents were commenced in 1640, by Thomas Johnson when quite a boy, under the advice and instructions of his father, Mr. Mindrum Johnson, and successively continued by his son, a Mr. Matthew Johnson; his grandson, Lawrence Johnson; his great-grandson, David Johnson; and his great-great-grandson, George Johnson, who is still living, but very infirm with age, he having been born in 1792. From this last named gentleman, the transcriber had the pleasure of obtaining the loan of the manuscripts." Without wishing to influence the readers of the following correspondence, I might be pardoned for drawing their attention to the difference in orthography between the MSS. and that in vogue at the same period as when they are supposed to have been written for instance, compare the following extract, taken from a letter of Andrew Marvell (a Hull Author) written in the year 1663:

"For the Right Wor'pfull, Richard "Wilson, Mayor, and the Aldermen his "Brethren of Kingston-upon-Hull.

"March 12, 1663.' "Gentlemen, my very worthy Friends,

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"Had mine own thoughts not been "strong enough to perswade me to slight any private concernments of mine in "respect to the publick and your service, 'your prudent and courteous letter of the

66

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"Hadde myne owne thoghts noght "beyn strong ynoughe, toe swade mee "toe slyghte concernmentes o myne, yn "respect toe ye Publique an yayre "servyce, y prudente an Corteise Lettre "o ye 3 daie Februarie, ynstante, woude "ha browghte mee owre-thoghe I hadde "abeyn atte a muche greater dystance.. "Ys bee yayrefor toe assure you, yt I ame usenyn alle ye speede I possablie canne "tce gette backe, an wi Gods kynd "assistyn, yn a shorte space o tyme youe "maie mowst assuredlie expecte toe heare "o mee atte ye Parlymente Housen-yn "ye meyne Tyme,

"I ame,

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tents, I feel it to be my duty to the public to controvert those mis-statements so far as I am able, and place matters in their true position. In the first place, your correspondent infers that the house in High Street, formerly occupied by Vincent Blenkarn, was given by Henry VIII. to Ann Bollen on her wedding day, whereas the meaning of the sentence is, that the Horloge or clock was given by his Majesty, and not the house. Great doubt is also expressed as to the existence of the fraternity or guild, called 'Merchant Adventurers,' in Hull, in 1640. Why, sir, if you will refer to Tegg's Dictionary of Chronology, you will find it there stated at page 562, that that ancient body was established in England by Edward III., and that an original charter was granted, on their behalf, on the 5th of February, 1406-7. Again, in reference to the origin of chariots and coaches, in the same Chronology, you will find at page 132 that Queen Mary rode in her chariot through London to Westminster in 1553, therefore the remark that those vehicles were not brought into use until some two hundred years later, is evidently an error. Finally, as to any doubts existing concerning printing presses being in Hull in 1654, all I can say is that I am prepared to prove that printing was done in a many parts of England, and encouraged by Richard III. so early as the year 1483. attention, I am glad to say I am in a Other matters to which you have invited position to produce documents sufficient to substantiate their truth, and I shall conclude by stating that the work has been faithfully compiled from ancient MSS., which a many of the antiquarians of Hull, as well as other places, (whose knowledge and judgment can be relied upon) have examined, and who have not only pronounced, but written to me, expressing their firm belief in the originality of the documents.-I am, sir, yours obediently,

W. A. GUNnell.

Leonard Street, Hull, 17th June, 1876.
E.M.N., June, 19th, 1876.

Mr. W. A. Gunnell, who is the Editor of the "Hull Celebrities," has contributed six letters to the present correspondence.

"On page 494 of the above book you can read an account of the wonderful family bible of the Johnson family: 'This book, which is printed in Latin and Black Letter, has been handed down from father to son from the year 1492.' And again, at the foot of the title-page is the following, printed in English: Prynted by Will Stubbs Caxton, yn ye yeere MCCCCLXXVIII, &c., &c.' With respect to the question of how much reliance can be placed on such a book, please note (1) that Caxton never printed any bible; (2), that no such bible was printed in 1492 by any printer.-Yours respectfully, A SUBSCRIBER TO THE ABOVE-NAMED 'ROMANCE.'

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E.M.N., June 26th, 1876.

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"In Mr. Gunnell's "Sketches of Hull Celebrities" I find, at page 17, the Saxon word 'Gemote,' used to mean sembly, in a manuscript which is given. as having been written in the middle of the seventeenth century; also, on page 114, the word 'wonneth' for dwelleth, used in a manuscript of (professedly) eighteen years later date. Now, sir, Í should like Mr. Gunnell or Mr. Alderman Symons, or any other gentleman of antiquarian or philological attainments, to tell me in what author (subsequent to Gower and Chaucer) either of these words is used as a recognised colloquialism; and whether there is any reason whatever for believing that these words. survived (even as Hull, or Yorkshire, provincialisms) the fifteenth century. It seems to me that, in these respects, Mr. Gunnell's MSS. are a little too ancient, and I cannot but wonder whether Mr.

respondent is still vividly before me, and still inspires me with wholesome terror) has culled from the Johnson manuscripts, and the long report of his lecture on 'The Town of Hull in Ancient Times,' contained in you columns of this day's issue, will help to rescue those inestimable treasures of antiquity,' and to hasten the time when those sceptics who 'doubt the authenticity of those old manuscripts, will retire abashed, or at all events be animated by feelings expressed by approval rather than disbelief, and will welcome them as a valuable addition to the early annals of the town.' I am sorry they have been rescued. Why was I not allowed still to continue my belief in Oliver Goldsmith? Oh that the author of the Vicar of Wakefield' and The Traveller,' to say nothing of ' She Stoops to Conquer,' should stand convicted as an arrant cheat and plagiarist! I do wish Alderman Symons had not told us about John Trip,' one of the aldermen of the borough at that time, viz., about 1667, and a strange humorous man, who composed the following epitaph:

6

·

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Evidently and clearly, according to antiquarian research and knowledge, having

Gunnell has been misled in attributing prigged-that looks like a good anti

their pages to authentic seventeenth century writers.-I am, sir, yours

A SUBSCRIBER to the 'SKETCHES.' Hull, August 8th, 1876."

E.M.N., August 11, 1876.

"Alderman Symons, M.R.I.A. (one has to be particular now about these letters, and I hope I have got them all all right, as the correspondence between a reverend gentleman and a Barton cor

quarian word-having, as I say, prigged it from the strange and humorous man who spells from with two f's no doubt correct for the period, but rather extravagant according to present ideas. Poor Goldsmith, I did think that in you the miseries' of a bookseller's hackwhich you in your own sad and early experience must have tasted to the fullmight have inspired the sentiment which gave to Ned Purdon his epitaph. But no, you scoundrel, you had brushed the

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