in the Lake Districts of Cumberland. 45 



exceeds Dublin, in March by fourteen times, in April by thir- 

 teen times, in October by five times, and in November by 

 seven times. 



The quantity measured at Seathwaite, and at Langdale 

 Head in the month of December (24*02 inches), is moe than 

 falls at some places in England during a year. 



Remarks. 



It is much to be regretted, that the meteorology of our 

 lake and mountain districts should have been so long ne- 

 glected. Prior to the establishment of these gauges, there 

 were none stationed in Cumberland, and, so far as I am 

 aware, only two among the lakes of Westmoreland, viz., one 

 at Esthwaite Lodge, and the other at Grasmere. The 

 largest quantities measured in any year were, 86 inches and 

 90 inches respectively ; and so startling did these amounts 

 appear to meteorologists when first made known, that many 

 were led either to doubt their authenticity, or to suspect the 

 accuracy of the instruments employed. But subsequent in- 

 vestigation shews, that these values are exhibited in some 

 portions of the lake district of Cumberland only in the very 

 driest years. Thus, in the period from July 1844 to June 1845 

 (which for drought has only found a parallel in the memor- 

 able 1826), the fall at Gatesgarth and Wastdale Head 

 amounted to 83*96 and 88*42 inches respectively; and at 

 Grasmere, in Westmoreland, to 74 inches nearly. But we 

 suspect that meteorologists will hardly be prepared for the 

 discovery, that we have localities in our own country which, 

 even in average years, exceed the amount of rain annually 

 deposited in many tropical climates. Yet such is the almost 

 incredible fact. At Grenada, lat. 12°*5', the average fall is 

 126 inches ; at St Domingo, lat. 18°.20', it is 120 inches ; and 

 at Calcutta, in lat. 22°-35', it is 81 inches. 



In the past year, the quantity measured in the vale of Bor- 

 rowdale exceeds the largest of these amounts by 25*87 inches. 



An inspection of a map of the county in connection with 



