326 WINTER OF 1784. 



observed, and by January the third, 1785, the thaw 

 was confirmed, and some rain fell. 



A circumstance that I must not omit, because it 

 was new to us, is, that on Friday, December the 

 tenth, being- bright sunshine, the air was full of icy 

 spiculce, floating in all directions, like atoms in a 

 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 eva- 

 porations from the snow frozen as they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for 

 the early information they gave us, and hurried our 

 apples, pears, onions, potatoes, &c., into the cellar 

 and warm closets; while those who had not, or 

 neglected such warnings, lost all their stores of roots 

 and fruits, and had their very bread and cheese 

 frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you, that, during those 

 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 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 may yet be allowed, 

 from its effects, to have exceeded any since 1739-40. 



