73 



o judge from still older records, going back 1,000 years or more, after making 

 sill allowance for exaggerations of description, and judging only from the facts 

 well authenticated, there does appear to have existed formerly a much more 

 rigorous climate in these islands than is at present experienced. Probably this 

 arises to a large extent from the clearance of wood and the drainiug of bogs, not 

 only in this country, but also in Europe, thus allowing the influence of the 

 sun's rays to be more felt, and reducing materially evaporation, and conse- 

 quently its cold producing powers. It has been attributed to a deviation in 

 the direction of the Gulf stream, which has not yet been proved to have taken 

 place, and for my own part I could never understand how so comparatively 

 small a body of water could influence our climate materially. The pre- 

 valence of S."W. winds bringing heat and moisture from the tropics being 

 sufficient independently to account for our warmth in winter. 



RECORDS OF GREAT HEAT. 



993 and 994 — The summers were so hot that corn and fruit were dried up. 



1022 — Heat most excessive, many men and animals died from it. 



1393-1394 -Were notable from intense heat. 



1447 — Very hot summer. 



1473-1474 — Do. do. "The whole earth seemed on fire." 



1640 — Was excessively hot. 



1679— Do. do. 



1702— Do. do. 



1717-1S-19, 1723, 1724, 1745, 1746— Were all very hot summers. 



1750 — July 8 to 23, said to be " the most excessive heat ever known" ; 

 many people died in consequence. 

 „ July 11th, thermometer 96°. The previous winter had been 

 very warm. 



1778, 1779, 17S0, 1781— Four very hot seasons. The year 1779 was hot 

 throughout, and much sickness prevailed. 



1802 — Was very hot in August. 



180S — Was excessively hot in July. On the 14th, thermometer 99" at 

 Ipswich. 



1818— Luke Howard says " The clear hot sunshine of the greatest part 

 of this summer had the effect of establishing it in a manner to which we have 

 been long unaccustomed in our climate." 



1825 — Excessive heat in July ; 14th to 19th inclusive, maximum in shade 

 above 90° every day (July 18th 97°). Temperature of the Wye at Ross 81°. 

 This time is still remembered and referred to by residents. 



1826— Was very hot. 



1834 — Hot summer. 



1842 — Great heat in August. 



1846— Intense heat all summer from May 31st to Sept. 23rd. Thera 

 was a very early harvest and great abundance of corn and fruit. Thermometer 



