109 



to the observations made by Mr. Walker from 1786 to 1798, 

 we find that in 1789 he collected 50-998in., and in 1792 

 55'250in. Since this period the rainfalls exceeding 40in. 

 have been 1822, 44-767in.; 1823, •i2-941in.; 1828, 45-267in.; 

 1830, 40-861in.; 1833, 41-677in.; 1836, 45-351in.; 1841, 

 41-190in.; 1845, 41-415in.; 1847, 43-555in.; 1818, 45-230in.; 

 1852, 45-730in. 



At the time Mr. Walker registered his excessive falls, the 

 mean annual temperature was lower than it has been since, 

 and reference to my paper, "Inquiry into the question 

 Whether Excess or Deficiency of Temperature during part 

 of the year is usually compensated during the remainder of 

 the same year" (Memoirs, vol. 2, third series, p. 424), will 

 show that between 1781 and 1791 a lower mean tempera- 

 ture prevailed than any we have had since. The other 

 years in which excessive rainfall occurred, 1822, 1823, 1828, 

 1830, 1833, 1836, 1841, 1845, 1847, 1848, and 1852, appear 

 to have been iiTeg*ular as regards temperature; the years 

 1822, 1828, 1833, 1841, 1847, 1848, and 1852, had a tem- 

 perature above the average, whilst 1823, 1830, 1836, and 

 1845, had a temperature below the average. Taking the 

 average rainfall of each of these series it appears that the 

 heaviest rainfall occurred during the warmer years. 



Returning again to the year 1872, the rainfall rises above 

 the average in every quainter, especially in the third, the 

 excess in that quarter reaching 7*104in.; in the last quarter 

 the excess was very small. 



Every month excepting May, August, November, and 

 December, had a rainfall above the average, the falls of 

 June, July, and September being most remarkable, each of 

 these months having a fall of more than double the average. 



The very heavy faU in the middle of July was accom- 

 panied by a great flood in the Medlock here, and there is 

 every certainty that such a rainfall again must be accom- 

 panied by a similpvr flood and great destruction of property. 



