The Natural History of Se I borne 407 



which occasioned a flood as violent as it was sudden ; doing 

 great damage to the meadows and fallows, by deluging the 

 one and washing away the soil of the other. The hollow 

 lane towards Alton was so torn and disordered as not to be 

 passable till mended, rocks being removed that weighed two 

 hundred weight. Those that saw the effect which the great 

 hail had on ponds and pools say that the dashing of the 

 water made an extraordinary appearance, the froth and spray 

 standing up in the air three feet above the surface. The 

 rushing and roaring of the hail, as it approached, was truly 

 tremendous. 



Though the clouds at South Lambeth, near London, were 

 at that juncture thin and light, and no storm was in sight, nor 

 within hearing, yet the air was strongly electric; for the bells 

 of an electric machine at that place rang repeatedly, and fierce 

 sparks were discharged. 



When I first took the present work in hand I proposed to 

 have added an " Annus Historico-naturalis, or The Natural 

 History of the Twelve Months of the Year ; " which would 

 have comprised many incidents and occurrences that have not 

 fallen in my way to be mentioned in my series of letters ; but, 

 as Mr. Aikin of Warringtori has lately published somewhat 

 of this sort, and as the length of my correspondence has 

 sufficiently put your patience to the test, I shall here take 

 a respectful leave of you and natural history together, 

 and am, 



With all due deference and regard, 



Your most obliged and most humble servant, 



GIL. WHITE. 

 SELBORNE, June 2$ih, 1787. 



