1819.] Dr. Burney’s Meteorological Observations. 453 
this discrepancy of upwards of 14° in favour of Gosport, after 
allowing for its difference in latitude, is too much to be over- 
looked, it would appear that a solution must be sought from some 
local circumstances peculiar to its situation. 
By comparing our monthly meteorological tables in the Naval 
Chronicle with those of Mr. Howard’s, it appears that the ther- 
mometer here is considerably higher in the nights, also in the 
cold winter days, than at Tottenham; and that the diurnal 
summer heat at Tottenham is higher than it is here. This may 
be accounted for principally by a great exposure of sea that 
almost surrounds us, and which tends to equalize the cold in 
winter, and to lessen the heat in summer: and since the noc- 
turnal temperature at Tottenham in frosty weather is from 5° to 
8° below ours, the temperature of Gosport, Portsmouth, the Isle 
of Wight, Southampton, &c. must be more uniform, and conse- 
quently, in the case of invalids, more salubrious than in the 
vicinity of London. This remark holds equally good in regard 
to the temperature of Plymouth, and other places situate near 
the sea. 
De Luc’s Whalebone Hygrometer. 
This instrument is enclosed in a brass frame 11 inches long, 
and graduated in a circular metallic plate 21 inches in diameter, 
from zero to 100 degrees, which, from 1000 observations, 
appear to be the extreme point of moisture, or complete satu- 
ration. But the index seldom advances to this point, except in 
long continued rains, accompanied by a south or a south-west 
wind, as on Sept. 5, when it reached 100 degrees. The greatest 
dryness it has pointed out is 29°; therefore, its annual range is 
71°. In inland places where the atmosphere is naturally drier 
. than it is here, from the influence of a great body of sea water, 
its range may probably amount to 75°. 
The annual mean height of this instrument, which is placed 
near to the thermometer, is, from three observations each day, 
66-8°. The mean dryness of the atmosphere, agreeably to its 
indications at nine, a.m. and nine, p.m. accord with each other 
within 2ths ofa degree, and also with the annual mean maxemum 
temperature within ths of a degree. This hygrometer points 
out to the observer very small changes in the humidity or dry- 
ness of the atmosphere ; but it is remarkable that in summer it 
often does not indicate the greatest dryness fot one or two hours 
after the maximum heat of the day. 
Scale of the Winds. 
The state of the winds was drawn up from three or more obser- 
vations each day, as well as from frequent observations in the 
oa according to the precise duration of each respective 
wind, 
The winds to the eastward of our meridian have blown 1374 
days, and those to the westward 2271 days; difference in favour 
