224 M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 
that which falls in England ; but it is evidently impossible to arrive at certain results 
on this question, from the partial observations hitherto made on local climates.” The 
writer of this essay has no hesitation im saying, that Patterson and his followers are 
wrong. The great, quantity of rain that falls at Kendal, from its peculiar locality, de- 
ceived him as to the average quantity of rain in England and Scotland. 
Dr. Campbell of Lancaster, observes, that the influence of hills in attracting clouds 
is no where more conspicuous, than at Kendal; that one third more rain falls at Ken- 
dal, than at Lancaster, a distance of only twenty miles, and that it is by no means un- 
usual, to, see from, the church-yard, of Lancaster, the hills about Kendal envolved in 
thick clouds, while the sky at the Lancaster side of Farlton Knott, appears perfectly 
clear.—Memoirs of the Lit. and Phil. Soc. of Manchester, Vol. IV. part 2, p. 635. 
Dr. Campbell informs us in the same work, that the clouds from the South and 
South-west, are attracted by the hills which divide Yorkshire from Westmorland, and 
that while the western side of these hills is deluged with rain, frequently on the York- 
shire side, the weather is dry. Doctor Garnett says—‘‘ The summer of 1792 was 
remarkably dry in Yorkshire, and all the eastern side of the English Appenine was 
burnt up for want of rain, while on the western they had plenty of rain and abundant 
crops of grass.’—Tbid. p. 634. : 
Doctor Patterson should have had observations made on the western side of the 
high grounds in the centre of Ireland, or at a remarkably rainy spot, such as Killar- 
ney, to institute a comparison with the very moist part of England. 
No person, a priori, would suppose that more rain could fall in England, than in 
Ireland. In the. first place, Ireland is, nearer to the. Atlantic, and in the second place, 
it has. more mountains, than, England to attract clouds. 
Long since, Boate. remarked, that no country in the world was fuller of brooks than 
Ireland. The. number of rivers, is the best proof of greater humidity. The high 
zrounds in the centre of the island, arrest the clouds loaded with moisture, which did’ 
not deposit, their burthen on the. western coast.; hence the magnificent Siannon, 
swelled by tributary streams, rolls its vast volume of water to the ocean. 
Any person may point to the: Shannon, and: laugh, at meteorological registries ; 
here is the hygrometer of nature. which does not err; in pointing out the greater hu- 
midity of Ireland. We haye in the Derry Survey as follows : 
« Taking the annual quantity of rain. that falls in. the east of England, which rarely 
is less than 18 inches, and the max, of the west of that country, the average will 
exceed 51 inches; and we cannot suppose that Scotland would produce a lower 
result.” 
A comparison between the quantities of rain at Derry and Edinburgh, will show. 
that Patterson was wrong. 
