Preface. vii 



the 1 6th century, says, speaking of England : "The 

 aire (for the most part) throughout the Hand is such 

 as by reason in maner of continuall clouds, is reputed 

 to be gross, and nothing so pleasant as that is of the 

 maine. Nevertheless it is more inclined to feeding 

 and grazing, than profitable for tillage and bearing of 

 corne." 



Again : " Certes this fruitfulnesse was not unknown 

 to the Britons long before Caesar's time, which was 

 the cause wherefore our predecessors living in those 

 days in maner neglected tillage, and lived by feeding 

 and grazing onelie." 



Thus it will be seen that our climate, even from 

 remotg ages, was never considered so well adapted 

 for the growth of corn as for the feeding and grazing 

 of stock ; consequently it may be concluded that in 

 general the atmosphere was humid, and dry seasons 

 the exception rather than the rule. The writer had 

 no idea that a somewhat similar collection of pheno- 

 mena had been made till his work was nearly brought 

 to a close, when " Lowe's Natural Phenomena " was 

 brought to his notice, and to which he is indebted for 

 a few of the incidents recorded. There is but little 

 in this summary of facts which lays any claim to 

 originality ; but as much of the information has been 

 gathered from sources out of the reach of the general 

 public, he trusts his work will.be of some use as a 

 reference, if nothing more, to those interested in its 

 contents. 



