282 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



sunbeam let into a dark room. We thought them at first particles 

 of the rime falling from my tall hedges ; but were soon convinced 

 to the contrary, by making our observations in open places where 

 no rime could reach us. Were they watery particles of the air 

 frozen as they floated, or were they evaporations from the snow 

 frozen as they mounted ! 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early infor- 

 mation they gave us; and hurried our apples, pears, onions, pota- 

 toes, etc., into the cellar, and warm closets ; while those who had 

 not, or neglected such warnings, lost all their store of roots and 

 fruits, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during these two Siberian days, 

 my parlour cat was so electric, that had a person stroked her, and 

 been properly insulated, the shock might have been given to a 

 whole circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe days, 

 two men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had their feet frozen, 

 and two men, who were much better employed, had their fingers 

 so affected by the frost, while they were thrashing in a barn, that 

 a mortification followed, from which they did not recover for 

 many weeks. 



This frost killed all the furze and most of the ivy, and in many 

 places stripped the hollies of all their leaves. It came at a very 

 early time of the year, before old November ended ; and yet may 

 be allowed from its effects to have exceeded any since 1730-40. 



LETTER LXIV. 



As the effects of heat are seldom very remarkable in the 

 northerly climate of England, where the summers are often so 

 defective in warmth and sunshine as not to ripen the fruits of the 

 earth so well as might be wished, I shall be more concise in my 

 account of the severity of a summer season, and so make a little 

 amends for the prolix account of the degrees of cold, and the 

 inconveniences that we suffered from some late rigorous winters. 



