Account of the Climate, $c. of the North of France. 233 



for two days in succession. The extremes are said to be 

 26, 3 1 — 29. It has been remarked, that the changes are more 

 frequent and rapid than in the interior, and that the varia- 

 tions are most remarkable about the equinoxes. The mean 

 temperature is about 5° above that of Paris. The cold 

 season is of long duration, , but is commonly not severe. 

 Judging from the animal sensations, however, this climate is 

 colder than that of Paris, which must arise from the great 

 dampness of the air, caused by the vicinity of the sea, the 

 number of canals and ditches, the lowness and consequent 

 moistness of the soil, and the great luxuriance of vegetation. 



When the south or west winds continue for some time in 

 any season, abundant rain is the consequence. The animal 

 system then feels relaxed and oppressed ; the circulation is 

 slow, and the secretions interrupted. Persons feel themselves 

 heavy, and incapacitated for either mental or corporeal exer- 

 tion, and many, but particularly strangers, acquire a dingy 

 yellow colour of the skin, obviously connected with some irri- 

 tation of the biliary organs. This state of the atmosphere is 

 quickly changed by a north or north-east wind coming from 

 the sea. These winds are dfy and invigorating, but not un- 

 frcquently accompanied by a dense fog. The winds are very 

 variable, often changing in the course of the same day. The 

 most frequent are the south-west and the north, the most rare 

 the east. The south-west and north winds are always the 

 strongest, and the south wind is very moist. The south-west 

 wind is common in autumn, the north wind in spring. 



The number of serene days is about 40, and occur only 

 during a very hot or very cold state of the air. Most com- 

 monly the" sky is covered with a universal greyness, through 

 which the sun only occasionally makes his appearance. 



They count, on an average, about twelve thunder storms 

 in the course of the year ; and not unusually a tremendous 

 one all at once ushers in the winter. In a storm of this kind 

 which I witnessed, a wind-mill, at a short distance, was struck 

 by the electric fluid, and immediately after the flash, there 

 suddenly fell a shower of angular pieces of ice, by which some 

 individuals had their faces slightly lacerated. 



Heavy fogs arc very frequent, often appearing at mid-day, 



