prevalent Disorders) <$r., with Volcanic Emanations. 7 



stood at 14°— 15° Reaum. (64°— 67° Fahr.) * The European 

 journals teem with accounts of summer flowers in blossom in 

 January : forty-seven gathered in one place, fifty-three in 

 another. Fruit trees were also in blossom at that time. 

 Thunder storms occurred in Kent and elsewhere. 



During the spring, summer, and autumn, of the present 

 year, a similar drought has visited Europe and America. 

 Up to May 15., drought and want of water were painfully felt 

 in Van Diemen's Land. On July 13. the thermometer in the 

 shade marked 93° in New York. On July 29. Canada expe- 

 rienced a similar heat.f At Miramichi the heat in July and 

 August was insufferable, owing to the warmth of the air and 

 the fires in the woods. J In England the weather has been 

 warmer than since 1829, and the temperature of the earth 

 and wells higher than since 1822. In Hungary, Austria, 

 Siberia, Bohemia, Prussia, Poland, the heat has been dread- 

 ful ; higher by 6° and 8° than the average heat of summer. § 

 The following deserves minute consideration, as showing 



* There was a peach tree in blossom at Stourton Castle, looking to the 

 n.e., on January 26., of a species which seldom blooms till May. Goose- 

 berries, the growth of the winter, were sold, at Bury St. Edmunds, on 

 January 22. See, also, Gard. Mag., x. 165-6. 



■j- At Quebec, the cholera came with the heat, and varied with the 

 changes of temperature. The effect of the absence of snow in America 

 during the last winter, and of rain subsequently, has been to dry up the 

 rivers that bring down the timber from the interior ; and the " lumber 

 merchants," as well as the shipping interest, have sustained the greatest 

 inconvenience in consequence. This is one of the instances of the indirect 

 effect of the seasons on commerce. In Italy, Sicily, Africa, the Ionian 

 Islands, Candia, Turkey, Malaga, and Alicant, the olive crop has entirely 

 failed, in consequence of the long drought : this has a direct effect on com- 

 merce. On the other hand, oranges arrived in England this year in 

 October, two months earlier than usual. In more northern countries, 

 where heat is less usual, the effect has been in some respects striking. 

 Potatoes and apples in England, and in other neighbouring states, have 

 exhibited a wonderful crop. The want of snow last winter in Belgium 

 preventing the chase, was favourable to the ivolves, who are now added to 

 my catalogue of examples from the animal world. In Liege, Luxembourg, 

 Namur, and Hainault, great damage has been done by them, as they 

 attacked cattle in the middle of the day. A chasse generate was ordered by 

 the government, in September, which probably afforded the braves Beiges 

 more sport than a General Chasse''! 



% May we not attribute to subaqueous heat the retreat of the fish from 

 the fishing-grounds of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as has been generally the 

 case there, in 1834 ? See VII. 200. 



§ The harvest on the shores of the Baltic, as in England, has been a 

 month earlier than usual. The Vistula has been dried up with drought. 

 In various parts of Switzerland the roads have been blocked up with 

 avalanches. The heat of the summer has so altered the glaciers in the 

 canton of Uri, and on the Simplon route, that great damage has been 

 done. The body of a hunter, who was lost thirteen years since, was 

 exposed on the Huffirm Peak, and found with his knife, weapons, &c. 



B 4; 



