60 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1703. 



j4bstract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. William Derham, F. R. S. to Mr. John 

 Haughton, F.R.S. containing his Observations on the fVeather, &c.for some 

 Years last past. Dated Upminster, April 5 j 1703. N° 286, p. 1443. 



As to the most remarkable weather, especially rain, of last year, and its 

 effects, Mr. Townley tells me, that it is a general complaint in the north of 

 England, that there were but small crops of hay ; which calamity befel the 

 southern parts also ; owing to the growing months of March and April having 

 been dry months in Lancashire, and May no wet month, considering the quan- 

 tities of the other months, and of other years. Here at Upminster, April was 

 fortunately a wet month, till the 23d, otherwise we should doubtless have 

 suffered more than we did in the want of hay ; for' the growing month of 

 March was a dry one, and May was a very dry month ; for very little rain fell 

 from April 23 till May 29, and then it fell in great showers, the greatest 

 quantity of that month's rain. Thus much for the weather in the spring 

 months of the year 1 702, and the effects it had on hay ; which effects I have 

 some reason to think extended to many parts of this kingdom, besides those 

 already spoken of. 



As to the other months, there is little remarkable, besides the vast dispro- 

 portions of rain between Lancashire and Essex, which I should scarce take 

 notice of, if it was not what happens almost every year ; the cause of this I 

 cannot judge of, unless it be that Lancashire having a western situation near 

 the sea; from which quarter the winds in England blow more than from the 

 eastward. 



I have added two tables more of the stations of the mercury in the barometerat 

 Townley in Lancashire, and at Upminster in Essex, with their differences; and this 

 observed at 3 times of the day, viz. in the morning, and about 3 in the afternoon 

 at Townley, but at noon at Upminster, and at 9 o'clock at night. One table 

 to the first day of every month ; the otiier the most remarkably low, high, and 

 more settled stations of the mercury the last year 1702. By these barometrical 

 tables it may be seen whether at all, or how far consentaneous to truth, that 

 opinion is of some learned curious men, both in England and abroad, that the 

 mercury ascends and descends in all places at the same time, and in the same 

 proportion. It is manifest that the mercury commonly rises and falls in one far 

 distant place, when it does so in another, but not alike : also when any con- 

 siderable variation is in one place, it is so in another; when remarkably high, 

 remarkably high; when low, low; when a great ascent or descent, generally 

 the same elsewhere; but only the differences of all these are not in equal pro- 



