154 M eteorology. 
periods of the changes of temperature. The perpetual changes 
of the weather, accompanied with showers of rain in December 
and January, have induced a false belief that a real greater quantity 
of rain has fallen this season than is usual, which some astrologers 
have not been backward hastily to attribute to the conjunction of 
Jupiter and Saturn. . In faet, there has been no very great in- 
crease in the quantity of rain fallen this winter. The extraordi- 
nary depression of the quicksilver in the barometer is another re- 
markable circumstance, as it has occurred more than once during 
the present season. On the night of the 24th December at eight 
o’clock it was as low as 27:97°, the thermometer being 46° of 
Fahrenheit. By twelve o’clock the barometer had risen aboutt> 
of an inch, and the thermometer had risen to 48° ; and the wind, 
which was high, became stormy, and blew in violent gales inter- 
cepted by calms, and accompanied by torrents of rain. 
The most violent gale we have had this year, took place at five 
in the morning of the 23d December ; it blew tremendously for 
above an hour, and was followed by a dead calm ; but the wind , 
got up again and blew very cold. After sun-rise on the 25th, I 
have noticed that previously to all the heavy gales that have blown 
of late, there has been an elevation of temperature. 
We have had but three frosty nights this year ; but my house 
stands half way up a hill which rises from one of the valleys of 
the Medway, and the upper half of the hill shelters it from the 
north. 
The contracted range of temperature in each day is another 
remarkable circumstance, the difference between the maximum 
and minimum being very inconsiderable during the unseasonably 
mild weather of the winter solstice ; and it is curious, that a si- 
milar approximation of the maximum and minimum of tempera- 
ture was observed during the very cool weather which happened 
about the last. summer solstice. I merely hint at these peculia- 
rities at present, without comment; as the grand cause of these 
phenomena of the weather is as yet unexplained, and requires the 
accurate observation of ages to develop it. For the present we 
must cortent ourselves with observations, and avoid as much as 
possible entangling them with hypothesis.—I have prepared for 
some future number, a copious list of plants which have flowered 
prematurely this winter, and which I hope to send you in a few 
weeks, At present the Scilla Peruviana flowers in the open 
ground :—this is the most remarkable of the premature produc- 
tions of this warm winter, as this plant is in general very con- 
stant to its period, which is the beginning of May. 
T remain, in haste, yours, 
J. FORSTER. 
Manchester, 
