COLD WINTERS. 129 



worth mentioning. From August 24 to the end of the 

 third week in November there was rain, with frequent in- 

 tervals of sunny weather. Then to the end of December, 

 dark dripping fogs. January, February, and the first half of 

 March, 1775, ram almost every day ; and to the end of the 

 first week in April, cold winds, with showers of rain and 

 snow. 



The end of the year 1775 was rainy, with intervals of 

 hoar frost and sunshine. Dark frosty weather prevailed 

 during the first three weeks of January, 1776, with much 

 snow. Afterwards foggy weather and hoar frost. The cold 

 of January. 1776, was remarkable, and will presently be 

 more fully described. 



November and December, 1776, were dry and frosty, 

 with some days of hard rain. Then to January 10, 1777, 

 hard frost ; to the 2oth foggy with frequent showers ; and 

 to February 18, hard dry frost with 3now, followed by heavy 

 rains, with intervals of warm dry spring weather to the end 

 of May. 



The winter of 1777-78 was another which resembled 

 closely enough those winters which many suppose to be 

 peculiar to recent years. The autumn weather to October 

 1 2 had been remarkably fine and warm. From then to the 

 end of the year, grey mild weather prevailed, with but little 

 rain and still less frost. During the first thirteen days of 

 January there was frost with a little snow ; then rain to 

 January 24, followed by six days of hard frost. After this, 

 harsh foggy weather with rain prevailed till February 23 ; 

 then five days of frost ; a fortnight of dark harsh weather ; 

 and spring weather to the end of the first fortnight in April. 

 The second fortnight of April, however, was cold, with snow 

 and frost. 



Similarly varied in character was the winter of 1778-79. 

 From the end of September, 1778, to the end of the year 

 the weather was wet, with considerable intervals of sunshine. 

 January, 1779, was characterised by alternations of frost 



K 



