260 NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER LXI. 



TO THE SAME. 



SINCE the weather of a district is undoubtedly part of it's 

 natural history, I shall make no further apology for the four 

 following letters, which will contain many particulars con- 

 cerning some of the great frosts and a few respecting some 

 very hot summers, that have distinguished themselves from 

 the rest during the course of my observations. 



As the frost in January 1768 was, for the small time it 

 lasted, the most severe that we had then known for many 

 years, and was remarkably injurious to ever-greens, some 

 account of it's rigour, and reason of it's ravages, may be 

 useful, and not unacceptable to persons that delight in plant- 

 ing and ornamenting; and may particularly become a work 

 that professes never to lose sight of utility. 



For the last two or three days of the former year there 

 were considerable falls of snow, which lay deep and uniform 

 on the ground without any drifting, wrapping up the more 

 humble vegetation in perfect security. From the first day 

 to the fifth of the new year more snow succeeded ; but from 



of Selborne Hill is nearly or quite 300 feet above the house at Selborne ; 

 and Newton Vicarage, on the same hill, is not far from that elevation. 

 The barometer fitted by Gilbert White himself, and doubtless the one to 

 which he alludes in this letter, is still in the old place, fixed at the end of 

 his own bookcase ; and what is worthy of notice, besides the graduation 

 marked on the tube itself, there is by its side a small ivory plate, gra- 

 duated nearly '3 of an inch lower than the Selborne reading, and which 

 doubtless was intended to show at a glance the height of the mercury at 

 his nephew's parsonage at Newton Valence, where a similar instrument 

 still exists, attached to the bookcase in the study, with a graduated ivory 

 plate by its side, and the tube of the same size. The Newton tradition 

 assigns the construction and fixing of this instrument to Gilbert White ; 

 and there can be no doubt of its correctness. Thus both the barometers 

 mentioned in the letter are still in existence, and in working order. My 

 friend and neighbour, the Rev. A. N. 0. Maclachlan, the present incum- 

 bent, preserves the Newton one with a sacred care. T. B.] 



