HOT SUMMERS. 255 



thaw 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 spiculce, floating in all directions, 

 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 tjie 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 evapora- 

 tions 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 threshing 

 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 1739-40. 



LE1TER LXIV. To THE HON. DAINES HARRINGTON. 



As the effects of heat are seldom very remarkable in the north- 

 erly climate of England, where the summers are often so defec- 

 tive in warmth and sun-shine as not to ripen the fruits of the 

 earth so well as might be wished, I shall be more concise in my 

 account of the severity of a summer season, and so make a little 



