282 THUNDER-STORMS CONCLUSION. 



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 jingling 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 extraordinary 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 Annus-Historico-Naturalis, or the Natural His- 

 tory of the Twelve Months of the Year ; which would have 

 comprised many incidents and occurrences that have not fallen 

 into my way to be mentioned in my series of letters ; but, 

 as Mr Aikin of Warrington 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. 



SELBOHNE, June 26, 1787. 



