OF SELBORNE. L'<;< 



to tliaw was observed ; and, by January the 3d, 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 10th, being bright 

 sun-shine, the air was full of icy tpicufa, floating in all direc- 

 tions, like atoms in a sun-beam 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 evaporations from the snow frozen 

 as they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early in- 

 formation 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 thrash- 

 ing in a barn, that a 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 yet it may be allowed from it's effects to have exceeded 

 any since 1739-40. 



LETTER LXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



As the effects of heat are seldom very remarkable in the 



