20 REPORT—1846, 
Lodge, and the other at Grasmere; and the largest quantities measured in any year 
were 86 inches, and 90 inches respectively. And so startling did these results 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 investigation shows that these values are exhibited in some por- 
tions 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 memorable 1826), the fall at Gatesgarth and Wastdale Head amounted to 83°96 
and 88°42 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 Borrowdale exceeds the largest of these amounts by 
25°87 inches. An inspection of a map of the country in connection with the table 
will show, that the wettest portions of the lake district are those situated at the head 
or eastern extremity of those valleys formed by our highest mountain ridges, amongst 
which are the Great Gabel, Sca Fell, Glaramara, Red Pike and Honister; the first 
being apparently the grand central point of attraction and condensation for the warm 
vapour atriving in a south-westerly current across the Atlantic; and it is a remark- 
able coincidence that nearly all our lakes bear in the direction of Gabel, so that if ex- 
tended onward in a direct line, they would all converge at the base of this noble 
mountain. 
“‘ Immense as is the deposit of rain at Gatesgarth, Grasmere, Wastdale, and in other 
portions of the lake district, even these enormous quantities sink into comparative in- 
significance when compared with the fall at Seathwaite, a small hamlet at the head of 
the vale of Borrowdale, which exceeds the wettest of the other localities by 27°74 inches, 
or by one-fourth nearly. Now it is chiefly the deposit in the vale of Borrowdale which 
supplies the majestic river Derwent and the extensive and picturesque lakes of Der- 
went and Bassenthwaite, so that we might @ priori have expected to find the greatest 
amount of rain in this section of the district. 
“ The great difference in the fall between places closely contiguous to each other is 
very remarkable: the proportion which obtains between Ennerdale lake, and a farm- 
house about 11 mile distant, is as 2 to 1 nearly. x 
“« Loweswater, Buttermere and Gatesgarth are all in the same line of valley, sur- 
rounded by the same ridges of mountains, and are each distant about 2 miles from the 
other. Buttermere exceeds Loweswater by 18 inches or one-fourth; but Gatesgarth, 
at the head of the valley, exceeds Buttermere by 36°65 inches, or nearly one-half. Here 
the difference between the head and foot of the valley, in a distance of 4 or 5 miles, is 
54°588 inches. 
“ But the great increase in the fall towards the head of the valleys is appreciable at 
much more limited distances. At Wastdale Head I have two gauges of precisely the 
same size and shape, and within a quarter of a mile of each other, yet the difference 
of the receipts in a single month sometimes amounts to half an inch. 
“ The annexed statement will show that the excess is always in favour of the higher 
gauge marked No, 1. 
1845. No. 1. No, 2. Diff. 
October ......| 12°35 | 11-89 | -46 
November ...| 12°31 11:90 “41 
December ...| 16°18 15°78 40 
1846. 
January ...... 12°97 12°47 50 
February ...| 6°60 658 | :02 
March ...... 10°35 10:07 28 
April ....... | 659 | 616 | -43 
May sec] 3°65 3:44 | -21 
