REMARKS ON THE CI.1MATE OF SOUTHAMPTON. 57 



Mr. Glaisher's corrections ; the dew-point deduced by the factors given in 

 the Greenwich observations ; the degree of humidity, and the mean amount 

 of cloud, considering a cloudy sky to be represented by 10, and a cloudless 

 sky by 0. 



From this table I find, as my experience had told me, that the atmosphere 

 of Southampton is moist compared with places farther inland ; nor will this 

 be a matter of surprise when we regard its situation between two rivers (one 

 of which is a mile in breadth for a considerable distance above the town), 

 and on an arm of the sea, from which the prevalent winds are constantly 

 wafting the over-laden clouds. 



The degree of humidity as compared with Greenwich, situated inland and 

 on a considerable elevation, approaches, as might be expected, nearer the 

 point of saturation. 



1848 (11 mo.). 1849. 1850. 



Greenwich -820 -802 805 



Southampton '878 '844 -861 



Table IV. shows the prevalent winds for each month during the three 

 years ; it has been formed by inserting under each head the number of times 

 the direction has been recorded at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 



In the year 1848, the south, south-west, and westerly winds were largely 

 in the ascendant, and the consequence was an exceedingly wet season, as 

 these winds were usually accompanied with rain ; they are, for the most part, 

 warmer than those from the northward and eastward, and hence we find the 

 mean temperature of that year higher by 2 degrees than 1849, and by 3 than 

 1850. 



In 1 849, the northerly and north-easterly winds were frequent ; the pro- 

 portion between those winds from the quarters north to east inclusive, and 

 those between south and west, being as 254 to 321. The difference in the 

 fall of rain during this year and the preceding, amounted to upwards of 10 

 inches : the loss of the January observations prevents my stating the exact 

 amount. 



In 1850, the south-west winds predominated over the north-east in the 

 proportion of 372 to 252 ; the amount of rain collected was as nearly as 

 possible the same as in 1849. The mean temperature was low, especially in 

 the months of January, March and October, when the wind set frequently 

 from the north and north-east, as the tables will show. During the month 

 of March especially, the low degree of humidity shows the dry nature of the 

 air on the prevalence of the northerly wind. In the month of March, gene- 

 rally the north and north-east winds prevail, while winds from the south and 

 south-west are about equally distributed throughout the other months of the 

 year. 



Table V. requires but little exjilanation or remark. It exhibits the 

 monthly mean of the readings of two thermometers, one near the surface of 

 the soil protected from the sun's rays, the other sunk 1 foot below : they 

 have been read oiF simultaneously at 3 p.m. daily during the year 1850. 



Table VI. is a contribution towards the comparison of the climate of 

 different localities, and exhibits certain conditions of the atmosphere, as in- 

 stanced at Southampton and three other places ; viz. Falmouth, which is 

 Xiear the most southern and western point of England; Stone, between 

 Aylesbury and Oxford, a central situation ; and York, a northern position, and 

 also inland. By the courtesy of the gentlemen who have kept constant 

 meteorological registers at those places, I have been supplied with the parti- 

 culars on which the table is based : these are, — 



