95 



at all events at 9 a.m. The object of Mr. Symons in proposing these observa. 

 tions was, that by a careful comparison of the retvuns, approximate determinations 

 might be arrived at respecting the heights of rain-gauges above sea-level in 

 those numerous places where observers have been hitherto in doubt on this point. 

 By my daughter's assistance, who from long practice has become a skilfiil 

 observer, I was enabled to record three readings daily; and the blank fonn 

 furnished by Mr. Symons was filled up at an early period and forwarded to 

 his address, 



Whilst waiting for a reply, I determined to make a careful measiirement, 

 by barometer, of Garway Hill ; a station of the engineers during the Ordnance 

 Survey of this county, and the nearest point to Hereford having its height above 

 sea-level given in the Ordnance map. Garway Hill is, according to this authority, 

 1,197 feet above sea-level at half tide, and ten miles in a straight line from 

 Hereford bridge. 



On the 19th of September, in company with Mr. Cooke, I visited this bill, 

 carrying with me the Woolhope standard. From observations made simul- 

 taneously on the summit of Garway and at my house, it appeared that the 

 difference of atmospheric pressure between the two places amounted to 1'067 inch, 

 and this difference, with a mean temperature of 571 (lat. 52 nearly) shows a 

 height of 997 "627 feet, or, in round numbers, 997 feet 6 inches nearly. But the 

 "istern of my barometer stands 4 feet 10 inches above the giound, and the 

 cistern of the barometer on Garway was about 17 inches above the top of the 

 hill when the instrument was suspended for observation ; if, therefore, we add 

 the 4 feet 10 inches to the height given above and subtract the 17 inches, we 

 shall find the summit of Gai-way to be 1,000 feet 11 inches above Hereford. 

 Deduct 1,000 feet 11 inches from 1,197 feet, and we find Hereford to be 196 

 feet 1 inch above sea-level. 



Early in the present year I received a notice from Mr. Symons to the effect 

 that, from the barometer readings I had sent in, the height of Hereford above 

 sea-level had been ascertained to be 200 feet. 



I shall be glad to make another measurement of Garway, but feel pretty 

 certain that the height of this city above sea-level is not more than 200 feet or 

 less than 195 feet. And I am strengthened in my belief on this point by the fact 

 that the length of the Wye from Hereford Bridge to the mouth of the river at 

 Chepstow is a little over sixty mUes, with a fall so rapid in many jilaces that it 

 is difficult to imagine it to have an average fall of less than three feet to the mile. 

 Hereford, at the High Town, is probably about fifteen feet above the surface 

 of the river at moderately low water. 



Dming the past year we have also by means of the two standards 

 measured the heights of the following hills :— Acornbury, 719 feet ; Credenhill, 

 530 feet ; Backbury, at the &r trees, 505 feet ; Hough Wood, 410 feet ; Dinedor, 

 409 feet. 



