THE YEAR 1825. 389 



ber, there was no appearance of any change in the 

 foliage, except a slight tinge upon the leaves of the 

 maple ; and this day was so brilliant, that the cattle 

 were reposing in the shade, the thermometer vary- 

 ing from 66 to 68 F., and the general warmth to 

 our feelings was greater than that indicated by the 

 instrument. October the 20th, the weather changed, 

 some sleety rain fell, and the hills were sprinkled 

 with snow, the thermometer falling to 40, and all 

 our hirundines, which had been sporting about us 

 up to this period, departed: yet still vegetation 

 continued in all its vigour, and on the 1st of No- 

 vember dog-roses hung like little garlands in the 

 hedges ; the cornel bushes (cornus sanguinea) were 

 in full bloom ; and corn-roses (rosa arvensis) were 

 decorating our hedges in a profusion equal to that 

 of a common August. November 4th there were 

 slight ice and partial snow, with various alternations 

 undeserving of notice, but the weather was generally 

 fair and mild until Christmas. 



All these preceding heats and rapid changes had, 

 I think, a manifest influence upon our constitutions. 

 Violent catarrhs, and lingering, unremitting coughs, 

 prevailed among all classes, both before and after 

 Christmas, to a degree that I never remember ; and 

 children were afflicted with measles almost univer- 

 sally. Early in January a violent wind was suc- 

 ceeded by a severe frost, and in some places by a 

 deep snow ; but, after about ten days' duration, a 



