CIV.] OF SELBORNE. 275 



LETTER CIV. 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARR1NGTON. 



IN reading Dr. Huxham's Observations de Acre, &c., written 

 at Plymouth, I find by those curious and accurate remarks 

 which contain an account of the weather from the year 1727 

 to the year 1748, inclusive, that though there is frequent rain 

 in that district of Devonshire, yet the quantity falling is not 

 great ; and that some years it has been very small : for in 1731 

 the rain measured only 17 inch . 266 thou . and in 1741, 20354 ; 

 and again in 1743 only 20 908. Places near the sea have 

 frequent scuds that keep the atmosphere moist, yet do not 

 reach far up into the country ; making thus the maritime 

 situations appear wet, when the rain is not considerable. In 

 the wettest years at Plymouth, the Doctor measured only once 

 36 ; and again once, viz. 1734, 37 114 : a quantity of rain 

 that has twice been exceeded at Selborne in the short period 

 of my observations. Dr. Huxham remarks, that frequent 

 small rains keep the air moist; while heavy ones render it 

 more dry, by beating down the vapours. He is also of opinion 

 that the dingy, smoky appearance in the sky, in very dry 

 seasons, arises from the want of moisture sufficient to let the 

 light through, and render the atmosphere transparent ; because 

 he had observed several bodies more diaphanous when wet than 

 dry ; and never recollected that the air had that look in rainy 

 seasons. 



My friend, who lives just beyond the top of the town, 

 brought his three swivel guns to try them in my outlet, with 

 their muzzles towards the Hanger, supposing that the report 

 would have had a great effect ; but the experiment did not 

 answer his expectation. He then removed them to the Alcove 

 on the Hanger; when the sound, rushing along the Lythe and 

 Combwood, was very grand : but it was at the Hermitage that 

 the echoes and repercussions most delighted the hearers ; not 



