OBSERVATIONS ON THE WEATHER. 353 



" From my earliest childhood I was bred up on a little 

 farm which I was taught to care for and cultivate ever since 

 I was able to spring the rattle, use the whip, manage the 

 sickle, or handle the spade, and as I found that much of our 

 success depended on a proper knowledge and management 

 of the weather, I was led to study it ever since I was eight 

 years of age. I believe meteorology is a natural science, 

 and one of the first that is studied ; and that every child in 

 the country makes untaught, some progress in it ; at least, 

 so it was with me. I had actually learned,, by silent obser- 

 vation, to form good conjectures concerning the coming 

 weather, and on this head, to teach wisdom to those who 

 were perfect, especially among those who had not been 

 obliged, like me, to watch earnestly; that what was so 

 necessary to the family support should not be spoiled by the 

 weather before it was housed. 



Many a time, even in tender youth, have I watched the 

 heavens with anxiety, examined the different appearances of 

 the morning and evening Sun, the phases of the Moon, the 

 scintillation of the stars, the course and colour of the clouds, 

 the flight of the crow and swallow, the gambols of the colt, 

 the fluttering of the ducks, and the loud screams of the 

 seamew not forgetting the hue and croaking of the frogs. 

 From the little knowledge I had derived from close observa- 

 tion, I often ventured to direct our agricultural operations 

 in reference to th'e coming days, and was seldom much mis- 

 taken in my reckoning. 



About twenty years ago, a table purporting to be the work 

 of the late Dr. Herschel, was variously published, professing 

 to perform prognostics of the weather, by the times of 

 change, full and quarters of the moon. I have carefully 

 consulted this table for years, and was amazed at its general 

 accuracy ; for though long as you have seen, engaged in the 

 study of the weather, I never thought that any rules could 

 be devised, liable to so few exceptions. I have made a 

 little alteration in the arrangements, illustrated it with fur- 

 ther observations, and have sent it to you that you may 

 insert it, as it has hitherto been confined generally to a few 

 almanacs." 



30* 



