288 Mr. Stockton on the Locality oJ'Baw. 



states the annual quantity falling here at 40 inches. As the 

 last three years have been excessively wet, the learned Doctor 

 may have probably imagined from the perusal of my reports for 

 those periods, that our average quantity for a longer consecu- 

 tive series of years is equal to this amount. I respectfully beg 

 leave to request your insertion of the following, which are ex- 

 tracted from the commencement of the Meteorological Register, 

 to the close of 1824. 



Inches. Inches. Inches. 



Amount of rain in 1817, 28-02. ..1818, 32-47. ..1819, 30-85 



1820, 29-43. ..1821, 28-96. ..1822, 36-10 



1823, 42-40... 1824, 36-74. ..Mean 33-121 



The situation of this place ought also to be taken into 

 account. Standing, for the greater part in a valley, and the 

 other on a gentle acclivity, and each bordering on the river 

 Derwent, which is bounded by the Yorkshire wolds from 

 east to south, and by the moors and the German Ocean from 

 west to north, with the numerous and thickly-wooded planta- 

 tions, &c. at Castle- Howard, the seat of the Earl of Carlisle, 

 about five miles distance to the south and south-west of the 

 town, the difference in the above annual amounts will not 

 excite so much surprise as might at the first view be ima- 

 gined. 



Mr. Howard remarks in his Climate of London (vol. ii. 

 tab. 71 ) : "In travelling at different intervals during this month 

 (July) between London and Folkestone, I have observed that 

 the showers, in great measure, avoided the high chalky tracts, 

 and followed the course of the rivers and moist valleys. The 

 reverse distribution sometimes takes place." 



During the last eight, and several preceding years, in 

 nearly all seasons, but more especially in the rainy periods of 

 that of the estival, I have frequently made the same observa- 

 tion. Whenever the thunder and other storms followed the 

 course of the Derwent through the valleys adjoining, and 

 were unattracted by the woods, &c. at Castle-Howard, we uni- 

 formly experienced a more than plentiful precipitation ; but 

 when the reverse occurred, and the clouds composing the 

 storm separated and took different directions, from south to east 

 and west to north, we almost invariably escaped the showers. 



In mentioning the above, Dr. Burney's observations as to 

 the diminution of the bulk of rain at New Malton, compared 

 with that at Kendal, appear to me to be more strikingly con- 

 firmed. I am, sir, yours, &c. 

 New Malton, April 19, 1825. Jas. Stockton. 



XLVIIL 



