292 Supposed Connection of Volcanic Emanations 



terated from the memory of the inhabitants, the oldest of 

 whom recollect nothing like it. Whether the mackerel do 

 or do not remain during the winter near our shores, as some 

 assert, this unusual fact is equally observable ; for it proves, 

 that there was a something indicated by the temperature of 

 the sea and air, which induced the fish to awake " de bonne 

 heure" from their muddy bed, and rise to the surface. I lay 

 particular stress on marine indications, because they are less 

 likely to be mistaken ; and, in agreement with the ideas 

 which arise from the consideration of them, I was told at 

 Boulogne, that the red mullet had appeared no more after 

 the bitter change which took place in the weather about the 

 equinox. 



There are other facts to be adduced, still more important. 

 The Continent has witnessed effects of a still more extensive 

 character. The lark was heard in Denmark in March. 

 North Russia has been peculiarly favoured with mild weather, 

 during the generally cold months. For one day only has the 

 thermometer at Petersburgh been lower than 18^°. Prussia 

 has seen scarcely a flake of snow; save at Dantzic, where 

 the weather at the equinox was severe. The centre of 

 Europe has been nearly free from cold. But in the southern 

 parts it has been different. Military operations were sus- 

 pended, in consequence of the cold, in the armies of Egypt 

 and the Porte. The southern parts of Russia, Georgia, and 

 Persia have been visited by unprecedented severity. At 

 Teflis and Erivan, where nightingales sing and roses bloom 

 in January, the cold has been as great as in the north of 

 Europe. The continent of India has also indicated recently 

 some extraordinary changes, and the complete failure of the 

 periodical rains has in places destroyed all hope of the crops. 

 These are incontestable facts. Letters also from the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and other tropical latitudes, mention that there 

 has been lately a very perceptible twilight : it was there, to 

 use the powerful words of Coleridge, in his " Rime of the 

 Antient Mariner," that 



" At one stride came the dark ; " 



now, the inhabitants enjoy a transition period, like that so 

 characteristic of higher latitudes. The last six months have 

 also witnessed some remarkable meteoric appearances, one of 

 which, that of November, deserved a particular memorial, 

 seen, as it was, over so wide a space in Europe. 



Those who may suppose that I have overrated the im- 

 portance to be attached to these notices, will not be inclined 

 to bear me out in my conclusions respecting a possible cause 



