224 WHITE 



ceremony is over, with the last gleam of day, they retire for 

 the night to the deep beechen woods of Tisted and Ropley. 

 We remember a little girl who, as she was going to bed, used 

 to remark on such an occurrence, in the true spirit of physico- 

 theology, that the rooks were saying their prayers ; and yet 

 this child was much too young to be aware that the Scriptures 

 have said of the Deity that " He f eedeth the ravens who 

 call upon Him." I am, etc. 



LETTER LX 



IN reading Dr. Huxam's " Observationes de Ae're," etc., 

 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 17.266 in.; and in 1741, 

 20.354 in. ; and again, in 1743, only 20.908 in. 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 consider- 

 able. In the wettest years at Plymouth the Doctor measured 

 only once 36; and again once, viz., 1734, 37.114 in. a 

 quantity of rain that has twice been exceeded at Selborne in 

 the short period of my observations. Dr. Huxam remarks 

 that frequent small rains keep the air moist ; while heavy ones 

 render it more dry by beating down the vapors. 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 trans- 

 parent ; because he had observed several bodies more diapha- 

 nous when wet than dry ; and did never recollect that the air 

 had that look in rainy seasons. 



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

 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 



