NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 283 



convex pieces of ice, which measured three inches in girth. Had 

 it been as extensive as it was violent, and of any continuance (for 

 it was very short), it must have ravaged all the neighbourhood. 

 In the parish of Hartley it did some damage to one farm ; but 

 Norton, which lay in the centre of the storm, was greatly injured ; 

 as was Grange, which lay next to it. It did but just reach to the 

 middle of the village, where the hail broke my north windows, and 

 all my garden-lights and hand-glasses, and many of my neighbours' 

 windows. The extent of the storm was about two miles in length 

 and one in breadth. We were just sitting down to dinner ; but were 

 soon diverted from our repast by the clattering of tiles and the jing- 

 ling of glass. There fell at the same time prodigious torrents of rain 

 on the farms above-mentioned, which occasioned a flood as violent 

 as it was sudden ; doing great damage to the meadows and fallows, 

 by deluging the one and washing away the soil of the other. The 

 hollow lane towards Alton was so torn and disordered as not to be 

 passable till mended, rocks being removed that weighed two hundred 

 weight. Those that saw the effect which the great hail had on 

 ponds and pools say that the dashing of the water made an extra- 

 ordinary appearance, the froth and spray standing up in the air 

 three feet above the surface. The rushing and roaring of the hail, 

 as it approached, was truly tremendous. 



Though the clouds at South Lambeth, near London, were at that 

 juncture thin and light, and no storm was in sight, nor within 

 hearing, yet the air was strongly electric ; for the bells of an electric 

 machine at that place rang repeatedly, and fierce sparks were 

 discharged. 



When I first took the present work in hand I proposed to have 

 added an " Anmts Historico-naturalis, or The Natural History of 

 the Twelve Months of the Year ; " which would hare comprised 

 many incidents and occurrences that have not fallen in my way to 

 be mentioned in my series of letters ; but, as Mr. Aikin of Warring- 

 ton has lately published somewhat of this sort, and as the length of 

 my correspondence has sufficiently put your patience to the test, 

 I shall here take a respectful leave of you and natural history together, 

 and am, 



With all due deference and regard, 



Your most obliged and most humble servant, 



GIL. WHITE, 



SELBORNE, 



June z^th, 1787. 



