234 WHITE 



were scorched up, while at Newton the same trees have not 

 lost a leaf. 



We had steady frost on the 25th, when the thermometer in 

 the morning was down to 10 with us, and at Newton only to 

 2 1 . Strong frost continued till the 3 1 st, when some tendency 

 to thaw was observed; and, by January 3rd, 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 loth, being bright sunshine, 

 the air was full of icy spiculcs, floating in all directions, like 

 atoms in a sunbeam 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 observa- 

 tions 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 

 information they gave us ; and hurried our apples, pears, onions, 

 potatoes, etc., into the cellar, and warm closets ; while those 

 who had not, or neglected such warnings, lost all their store of 

 roots and fruits, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during these two Siberian 

 days, my parlor 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 may be allowed from its effects to have exceeded any 

 since 1730-40. 



