82 



near Bangor. Temperature lowest in the neighbourhood of London, where there 

 was a more severe frost than in 1860— but not so in Hertfordshire or the country 

 generally. Lowest temperature recorded -12° at Epsom, whilst at Ross it was 

 not below 9°. March was very cold, easterly winds blowing uninterruptedly 

 from February 26th to March 25th. 



"We gather from these records that severe frosts in winter, such as in 

 December, 1860, only occur a few times in a century. 



Frosts of long continuance like 1794-3, 1813-14, 1838, aud 1855, are also 

 not frequent, nor yet heavy falls of snow in this part of the country. 



Really cold and wet summers are still less often experienced, only three 

 having occurred in the hundred years — viz., 1799, 1816, and 1860. 



The thermometer in most years at some time or other descends to 15% 

 although in exceptionally warm winters, such as 1852 and 1863, its lowest was 25*. 



RECORDS OF GREAT RAINFALL, FLOODS, &C. 



The rainfall of this district has been measured and recorded for 52 years 

 or Bince 1818, acd it appears that we have an average annual fall of about 27 

 inches. This is more than that of the cast' m counties or even London, but 

 considerably less than Monmouthshire or Radnorshire, or the shores of the 

 British Channel. During a prevalence of south-west winds we often have more 

 rain in the south than they have in the north of the coun'y, while I suspect 

 that thunderstorms are'more frequent in the north. The heaviest falls of rain 

 are generally accompanied by thunder and lightning, but occasionally we have 

 a steady downpour wilhout it. 



I propose to give a few instances of years in which there was an ex- 

 cessive amount. 



353. — A great flood in Cheshire ; 5,000 persons, besides large numbers of 

 cattle, said to have perished. 



738. — More than 500 families drowned t Glasgow by an inundation. 

 >. — Country for 30 miles round laid waste by river- Tweed. 



1015.— Great inundation of thi 



1091. — Nov. 6, London bridge swept away. 



1099 or 1100.— Godwin's Lands, 4,CG0 acres (now called Godwin's Sands), 

 first overflowed by thi 



1408. — Ware gre Hood. 



Lincolnshire. 

 5. — In October the river . for seven days. Men, 



n, and children carritd off in their beda. Called the "Great Waters" 

 for abui tfter. 



1517. — Novi I oi the Trent at Burton. 



1528.- Inc< ng sown, and there 



was consequently a failun in the hat \ 



1C00. — Great flood on the Trent, which altered the course of the liver 



