96 . Register of the Weather in Iceland [Feb. 



Article III. 



Register of the Weather in Iceland, by two Danish Gentlemen 

 sent to survey the Coasts, with a Supplementary Register by 

 Mr. Gladstone. 



(To Dr. Thomson.) 



SIR, Liverpool, July 25, I81T. 



I visited Iceland in the summer of 1813, at which time the 

 Governor of the island presented me with a copy of a journal of 

 the weather kept during the years 1811, 1812, and 1813, by 

 two Danish officers, sent thither by the King of Denmark for 

 the purpose of making a survey of the coasts. This document 

 has never, I believe, been made public; nor did I think of doing 

 so until my friend Dr. Traill, of this place, suggested to me that 

 it might be an acceptable contribution to your journal. 



I have, therefore, taken the liberty of transmitting it to you, 

 together with a register of thermometer kept by myself during 

 my stay in the island, from the 1st of May until the middle of 

 August. To this is subjoined a continuation until the end of 

 November following, which I subsequently received from Mr 

 Park, the British Consul resident there. — You will also find 

 amongst these papers some observations on the weather, made 

 during a part of the summer of the preceding year (1812), which 

 I likewise procured from the same gentleman. Of all these you 

 will please to make such use as you may think proper. 



I remain, respectfully, Sir, your most obedient servant, 



David Gladstone. 



Register of the Weather kept in the northern Part of the Island of 

 Iceland (Eyajjord), from the Month of June, 1811, until June, 

 1813. Extracted from the Journal of Captain Van Scheels. 



The barometer used is divided into degrees and lines (tenths) 

 The thermometer used was Reaumur's, divided into degrees and 

 tenths of a degree. 



The letters, which express the degree of force and strength of 

 the wind, denote as follows : A, the lowest degree ; B, a breeze ; 

 C, a fresh breeze ; D, a gale ; E, a storm ; F, a hurricane. — 

 The terms used to express the kind of weather are supposed to 

 stand in the following order : 1, clear (i. e. when scarcely a 

 cloud is visible) ; 2, partially clear ; 3, cloudy ; 4, thick ; 5, 

 foggy. ©-, marks thunder ; and II, ice to be on the coast. 



General Observations. 



On July 10, 1811, thunder was heard at Axarfjord, and 

 also by the author of this journal (Capt. Scheels) whilst on 

 a journey. On the 5th of September, 1811, Capt. S. first ob- 



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