8 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena, 



a more intimate correspondence between the present period 

 and that of the Black Death, than many of the foregoing 

 illustrations. In Silesia, in July, the wells and rivers were 

 dry ; trees and grass faded. " For three weeks the air was 



filed with haze, preventmg the sight of mountains at a distance. 

 The air was filled with dust ; the wind constantly s.e., and the 

 temperature in the shade at noon, in a north aspect, from 24° 

 to 27° Reaumur (86° to 93° Fahr.)." A letter dated August 2. 

 states, " there is no appearance of rain. The sun rises and sets 

 like a ball qffre, so that the timid and superstitious are filled 

 with terror, and prophesy all sorts of calamities." [German 

 Papers.) Russia has also suffered extremely. At Tula* the 

 heat was insupportable ; whilst, near Petersburg, the forests 

 took fire, and were extensively destroyed. The same occur- 

 rences took place in Esthonia and Livonia. f Gallicia, Mo- 

 ravia, and all Eastern Europe have suffered intensely. All 

 May was without rain : at Revel, the thermometer stood at 

 28° Reaum. (95° Fahr.); farther south, at 45 Reaum. (134.° 

 Fahr.). Slight stormy showers fell in June, but the heat 

 continued unabated, with the exception of two or three nights' 



Jrost.\ July was a disastrous month : rivers, brooks, and 

 springs were dried up : the leaves of the trees became yellow : 

 mills were stopped for want of water : potatoes failed also : 

 cattle were obliged to be sold : hay and straw were be- 

 yond all price : horses fetched only from ten to sixteen 

 dollars. § (Allgemeine Zeitung, Aug. IS.) Spain has suffered 

 also from the drought. The earthquake which occurred at 

 Cadiz, and for eighty miles round, on April 13. (half-past 

 eight a.m.), was attributed to the drought, which had lasted 

 through the winter, and had dried up all the springs. The 

 vintage has been unusually good in France, along the Rhine, 

 and in Austria, and the wine richer and better than since 

 1802, and there are scarcely casks enough in the country 

 to contain it. [Mayence News, Aug. 4. to Sept. 26.) As 

 a proof of the extraordinary character of the present season, 

 we may refer to apple trees in blossom, catkins on the 



* Tula was ruined by fire, on July 11. 1834, during a violent storm. 

 Nine churches and 670 houses were consumed. 



-J- See M. N. H. y vii. 616. In Carinthia, during September and Oc- 

 tober, whole forests were ravaged by these fires for sixteen days : 170 

 square miles were smoking together, and emitting a brilliant flame. A 

 heavy rain extinguished the fire. 



J On May 30. 1834, the frost was so intense, that a cluster of bees 

 were completely frozen, at Flimpton, in Norfolk, and many were destroyed. 

 (Bury and Norwich Post, June 11. 1834.) 



$ The thermometer stood, at Alexandria, Aug. 29. 1831, at 144° Fahr., 

 in the shade; and, in the sun, at 160° Fahr. (Voyage du Luxor.) 



