344 XS^^teorologg* 



England. Dr. Miller's experiments have, in short, enabled 

 us to collect a number of new and curious facts bearing on 

 the quantity and very unequal distribution of rain in this 

 island. The law of gradation in the amount of rain between 

 the valleys and the tops of the highest mountains, is also 

 thus ascertained at various intermediate points, with a high 

 degree of probability. 



A little consideration will greatly lesson our surprise at 

 the enormous quantity of water deposited in the hilly dis- 

 tricts of Westmorland and Cumberland. To those un- 

 acquainted with these localities, it may be briefly stated that 

 the Lake District valleys radiate from a series of mountains 

 of slate and primitive rock, having Great Gable (2949 feet 

 in height) as a nucleus or central point ; and in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of which are Scafell and Pillar, of the respec- 

 tive elevations of 3,162 and 2,927 feet, and Great End and 

 Bowfell, and Glaramara not much inferior in altitude. These 

 mountains are distant only about ten or twelve miles, in a 

 direct line, from the Irish Sea, and, as no hills intervene, they 

 are consequently fully exposed to our wet and prevailirig 

 winds, which are from the S.W. The warm south-westerly 

 current arrives at the coast loaded with moisture obtained in 

 its transit across the Atlantic ; and these experiments justify 

 the conclusion, that this current has its maximum density at 

 about 2,000 feet above the sea-level ; hence it will travel on- 

 ward until it is obstructed by land of sufficient elevation to 

 precipitate its vapour ; and, retaining a portion of the velo- 

 city of the lower parallels of latitude whence it was origin- 

 ally set in motion, it rapidly traverses the short space of 

 level country, and with little diminution of its weight or 

 volume; sudden condensation consequently ensues, in the 

 form of vast torrents of rain, which, in some instances, must 

 descend almost in a continuous sheet, as when 9 or 10 inches 



