NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 273 



that Newton House must be three hundred feet higher than that 

 in which I am writing, instead of two hundred. 



It may not be impertinent to add that the barometers at Sel- 

 borne stand three-tenths of an inch lower than the barometers at 

 South Lambeth : whence we may conclude that the former place 

 is about three hundred feet higher than the latter ; and with good 

 reason, because the streams that rise with us run into the Thames 

 at Weybridge, and so to London. Of course therefore there must 

 be lower ground all the way from Selborne to South Lambeth ; 

 the distance between which, all the windings and indentings of 

 the streams considered, cannot be less than a hundred miles. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER LXI. 



SINCE the weather of a district is undoubtedly part of its natural 

 history, I shall make no further apology for the four following 

 letters, which will contain many particulars concerning some of 

 the great frosts, and a few respecting some very hot summers, that 

 have distinguished themselves from the rest during the course of 

 my observations. 



As the frost in January 1768 was, for the small time it lasted, 

 the most severe that we had then known for many years, and was 

 remarkably injurious to evergreens, some account of its rigour, 

 and reason of its ravages, may be useful, and not unacceptable 

 to persons that delight in planting and ornamenting ; and may 

 particularly become a work that professes never to lose sight of 

 utility. 



For the last two or three days of the former year there were 

 considerable falls of snow, which lay deep and uniform on the 

 ground without any drifting, wrapping up the more humble vege- 

 tation in perfect security. From the first day to the filth of the 

 new year more snow succeeded ; but from that day the air became 

 entirely clear ; and the heat of the sun about noon had a con- 

 siderable influence in sheltered situations. 



