in 1835, at Ke?idal, Westmoreland. 309 



37 in.; at Chichester, 32 in. ; at London, 23 in. ; at Norwich, 

 25 J in. ; at Ferriby, near Hull, 27 in. ; at Chatsworth, in 

 Derbyshire, 27J in. ; at Nottingham, 23 J 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 Lan- 

 cashire 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 cur- 

 rents 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 quan- 

 tity 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 adapt- 

 ation 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 hu- 

 midity 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 



