OBSERYATIONS ON THE WEATHEB. 14/5 



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 obseiTa- 

 tion,to form good conjectures concerning the coming weather, 

 and on this head, to teach wisdom to those who were imper- 

 fect, 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, I have 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 

 6eamew, 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 the coming days, and was seldom much mistaken 

 in my reckoning. 



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

 work of the late Dr. Herschel, was variously published, pro- 

 fessing to perform prognostics of the weather, by the times 

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

 consulted this table for years, and was amazed at his 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 al- 

 teration in the arrangements, illustrated it wdth further ob- 

 servations, and have sent it to you that you may insert it, as 

 it has hitherto been confined generally to a few almanacs." 



13 10 



