CONCLUSION. 



farms above-mentioned, which occasioned a flood 

 as violent as it was sudden ; doing great damage to 

 the meadows and fallows, by deluging the one, and 

 washing away the soil of the other. The hollow 

 lane towards Alton was so torn and disordered as 

 not to be passable till mended, rocks being removed 

 that weighed two hundred weight. Those that saw 

 the effect which the great hail had on the ponds and 

 pools, say that the dashing of the water made an 

 extraordinary appearance, the froth and spray stand- 

 ing up in the air three feet above the surface. The 

 rushing and roaring of the hail, as it approached, 

 was truly tremendous. 



Though the clouds at South Lambeth, near London, 

 were at that juncture thin and light, and no storm 

 was in sight, nor within hearing, yet the air was 

 strongly electric ; for the bells of an electric ma- 

 chine at that place rang repeatedly, and fierce sparks 

 were discharged. 



When I first took the present work in hand, I pro- 

 posed to have added an Annus-Historico-Naturalis, 

 or the Natural History of the Twelve Months of the 

 Year ; which would have comprised many incidents 

 and occurrences that have not fallen into my way to 

 be mentioned in my series of letters ; but as Mr. 

 Aikin of Warrington has lately published somewhat 

 of this sort, and as the length of my correspondence 

 has sufficiently put your patience to the test, I shall 

 here take a respectful leave of you and Natural His- 

 tory together. And am, 



With all due deference and regard, 

 Your most obliged, 



And most humble servant, 



GIL. WHITE. 

 SELBORNE, June 25, 1787. 



