4 Observations and Experiments, made 



The cold season commenced towards the close of 

 December, 1776; and on January 27th, 1777, the 

 immense quantity of snow which had fallen, within 

 the last three weeks, had now rendered many of the 

 roads impassable, and, in a greaJ: measure, cut off all 

 intercourse between the metropolis and the northern 

 parts of the kingdom ; the snow, in consequence 

 of a high wind, being drifted, in many places, to the 

 height of more than twelve feet, presenting a prospect 

 awfully sublime and picturesque, and exhibiting win- 

 ter arrayed in all its horrors. 



This morning the frost became suddenly more 

 severe, the wind full east, accompanied with inces- 

 sant snow. The barometer stood at 294; Fahren- 

 heit's thermometer, which hung in my parlour, where 

 there was a good fire, stood at 33% barely one degree 

 above the freezing point. On being removed into 

 the open air, it presently sunk to 20°. At five 

 o'clock, the same evening, it fell to 16°. At this 

 time, eggs, exposed in the market, were found com- 

 pletely frozen, assuming the consistence of wax. 



Experiment 1. This evening was placed on my gar- 

 den wall, facing the north-east, an ounce of lemon- 

 juice, of vinegar, and of red port- wine, in three china 

 saucers. 



January 28th. This morning, at eight o'clock, the 

 barometer at 30", the tlu-rmometer at 12°, wind north- 

 east, the three liquors were each of them reduced to 

 a solid cake of ice. 



