LETTER XXXVI. 1 



T'o the same. 



SELBORNE, Nov. ^^nd, 1777. 



EAR SIR, You cannot but remember that the 

 26th and 2yth of last March were very hot days, 

 so sultry that everybody complained and were 

 restless under those sensations to which they had 

 not been reconciled by gradual approaches. 



This sudden summer-like heat was attended by 

 many summer coincidences ; for on those two 

 days the thermometer rose to sixty-six in the shade ; many species of 

 insects revived and came forth ; some bees swarmed in this neigh- 

 bourhood ; the old tortoise, near Lewes, in Sussex, awakened and 

 came forth out of its dormitory ; and, what is most to my present 

 purpose, many house-swallows appeared and were very alert in many 

 places, and particularly at Chobham, in Surrey. 



But as that short warm period was succeeded as well as preceded 

 by harsh severe weather, with frequent frosts and ice, and cutting 



1 This letter was published by Barrington in his "Miscellanies," and was 

 clearly called out by a communication from Barrington himself on the subject with 

 which it deals. ED. 



