212 M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 
in the winter, and of north and north east winds in the spring, the wetness of winter, 
the humidity of the summer, particularly about the time of July, and the variability 
of different years, when closely compared with each other. On the supposition of 
a cycle, variability of years ought to be expected, and a variation is manifest in the 
accounts we have. 
When we have a severe winter in Ireland, it is the effect of a general cause, acting 
with greater effect on the continent. Ancient and modern accounts agree as to the 
usual mildness of our winters. 
Boate observes—“ For the most part there falleth no great store of snow in Ireland, 
and some years, none at all, especially in the plain countries. In the mountains, 
there is commonly greater plenty of snow than in other parts, so that all kinds of 
cattle do, all winter long, remain there abroad, being seldom troubled with very great 
frost or snow, and do feed in the fields, night and day.” 
The very attempt of Hamilton, in modern times, to prove a change of climate, by 
describing its great mildness, only corroborates Boate’s statement, and must inevitably 
lead the impartial reader, who compares the two accounts, to conclude that no great 
change has taken place. 
Boate describes the heat of summer thus—‘‘ The which is seldom so great, even 
in the hottest times of the year, as to be greatly troublesome. And it falleth out 
often enough in the very summer months, that the weather is more inclinable to cold, 
than to heat, so as one may very well endure to come near a good fire. And this 
cometh to pass only during the wet weather, for else, and whilst it is fair, it is very 
warm all summer long, albeit seldom over hot.” 
There is a strong similarity in the description of the spring of the year, given by 
Boate, to that given by Rutty in his time. Rutty showed that the winds from the 
rainy points were not prevalent in the spring. Doctor Boate, says—‘* And it raineth 
there very much all the year long, in the summer as well as in the winter ; commonly 
in the spring of the year it is very fair weather, with clear sunshine from morning till 
night, for the space of five or six weeks together, with very little or no interruption, 
which fair weather beginneth commonly in the month of March, some years in the begin- 
ning, other years in the midst, and sometimes in the latter end of it. But the same 
being once passed, it raineth afterwards very much all: the summer long, so as it is a 
rare thing to see a whole week pass without it, and many swnmers ti is never dry 
weather two or three days together. Which inconstancy of the weather, is not only — 
troublesome to men, but also hurtful to all things growing out+of the earth for man’s 
behoof.” 
What will the advocates for an increase of humidity in summer, in modern times, 
say to this ? ‘ 
The above quotation from Boate, is enough of itself, to upset the doctrine main- 
tained in Hamilton’s Memoir on the Climate of Ireland. 
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