274 Meteorological Table at Plymouth. [ApRii, 



Article VI. 



Meteorological Table of the U'eather at Phjmortth for January, 

 1814. By James Fox, jun. Esq. 



(To Dr. Thomson.) 



SIR, Plymoutli, Portland-square, Feb. 1814. 



Not having observed any account of meteorological observations 

 in the west of England, either in the Annals of P/iilosophi/, or any 

 other scientific work, 1 conclude none have been kept ; or if so, at 

 least have not been communicated for public information : under 

 this impression 1 take the liberty of saying, that I have for some 

 time past registered the following observations, which are much at 

 your sei-vice if you think them worthy notice : — the state of the 

 barometer, ditto thermometer, ditto v.ind ; quantity of rain, snow, 

 and hail ; fogs, thunder, or other occurrences. 



Having stated thus much, it may not be improper to describe 

 the situation of my residence. It appears to me good for the 

 purpose, l)cing one of a row of houses intended to form the side of 

 a square, which has been recently marked out in a field about a 

 furlong distant from the town of Plymouth. 



I Iiave a good sized garden attaclied to it, which adjoins on either 

 side to others, the one at the end being a^f/i planted as a kitchen 

 garden. My rain-gage is fixed on the top of a pole firmly fastened 

 to the end wall, and rising about three feet above it ; and no 

 building within about 100 feet of it, nor any trees of sufficient 

 elevation to affect it by eddy, winds, 



I ascertain the temperature of the air by a Six's thermometer, 

 which has been checked by, a very accurate one of Fahrenheit's: 

 it is placed in a northern aspect, about four feet from the ground, 

 and one foot from tlie wall. 



Should it be your wisli to receive rither an annual, quarterly, or 

 montldy communication on this subject, I propose beginning with 

 the present year, as it was only during a part of the last that ] made 

 use of a Six's thermometer, which is essential to get at a true 

 average temperature. 



I will inclose my account for January, 1814, for 3-our inspec- 

 tion ; it is remarkable for great cold, an unusual quantity of snow, 

 as well as rain, and for a very great depression of the barometer for 

 a few hours only. From this being a first communication, and so 

 large a quantity of rain being stated to have fallen, you may ]K)s- 

 sibly doubt tin; accuracy of the gage. To do away any such im- 

 pression, I will quote the quantity measured by the same instru- 

 ment in the months of May to December, 1813, inclusive : — 



May, 1813, 2-5 inches: June, 2*9: July, 2'4 : Aug. 1*G : 

 Sept. 3-1 : Oct. 6*.) : Nov. 3-5 : Dec. 3-5. 



