1816.] Meteorological Journal. 247. 
to — 5. Idonot, however, lay much stress on this analogy, which 
is pointed out rather for the use of future observers. 
I was prepared to expect the intense cold of the night of the 9th to 
10th instant, by the circumstance of a temperature of 7°, (or pro- 
bably 5°) on the night before, being followed by a clear sky, with the 
wind at E, and a maximum for the day of only 20°. Early in the 
evening, on trying the experiment of placing a wet finger on the iron- 
railing without, it was found to adhere immediately and strongly to 
the iron. I exposed several thermometers in different situations. At 
8, p. m., a quicksilver thermometer, with the bulb supported a little 
above the snow, stood at Zero: at 11, p. m., a spirit thermometer in 
the same position indicated — 4; the former, which had a pretty 
large bulb, had not sunk below — 3. At half past seven, a.m., the 
10th, a quicksilver and a spirit thermometer, hung over-night about 
eight feet above the ground, indicated respectively — 3, and were 
evidently rising. The minimum of — 5, which I have registered, 
was taken from a Six’s thermometer, the freezing point of which is 
very correctly marked on the scale, placed a little above the snow. As 
the float of this thermometer had not room to move further, it may 
not have indicated the actual minimum of the air in that situation; 
but I have other evidence that, at the usual height from the ground, 
of my standard thermometer, the temperature was at no time below 
— 5. The exposure is North, and very open. 
From eight, a. m. the thermometer continued to rise steadily: at 
noon a temperature of 25° was pleasant, by contrast, to the feeling, 
and it was easy to keep warm in walking without an upper coat. 
Even at Zero, however, the first impression of the air on the skin 
was not disagreeable, the dryness and stillness greatly tending to 
prevent that sudden abstraction of heat, which is felt in moist and 
guickly flowing air. Early in the afternoon the wind changed all at 
once to S. W.; some large Cirri, which had appeared all the day, 
ogre to Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus, with obscurity to the south. 
now confidently expected rain (as had happened in former in- 
stances) but was deceived; and the thaw has taken place with a dry 
air for the most part, and with several interruptions by night. 
_ During these two days the barometer, which had risen rapidly, 
fluctuated between 29°6 and 29°7 inches, and immediately after re- 
sumed its course, and rose at the same rate as before. 
The mean temperature of this period is precisely $2°, and it is 
remarkable, that the mean temperature of each of three similar 
periods of frost, comprehended in the long winter of 1813-4, does 
not vary a degree from 32°; though preceded and followed by periods 
which respectively exhibit a mean of about 44°. On examination, L 
perceive that this analogy might be extended further, 
The gale at N. E, with which this frost came in, brought with it 
abundance of snow, which loaded the trees to their tops, and weighed 
down the smaller shrubs to the ground, The peculiar clinging quality 
of some snows merits inquiry. It is in part the result of the needly 
crystallized texture, aided by a degree of moisture attending, which 
erwards freezes in the mass; but as light volcanic ashes have 
been found likewise to possess this quality, and in a still higher degree, 
haps we ought to attribute something to the electric charge with 
which each of these light bodies arrives at the earth. The seasonable 
covering which snow affords to the vegetable kingdom is matter of 
common remark; but it is not so generally understood in how great. a 
