120 MY LIFE [Chap. 



memory of the weather for a week before and after my walk 

 had been quite correct and as I have stated here, and I also 

 had the advantage of examining the succeeding years, with 

 notes of the actual weather in a considerable proportion of 

 the days entered in a space left for the purpose by the owner 

 of this copy. The place of observation, however, is not given, 

 and it is obvious that, as the weather is usually very different 

 in widely separated parts of the country, only those features 

 of it can have any chance of being predicted which are 

 common to the greater part of our island, and are persistent for 

 a considerable period. Looking over these records from this 

 point of view, I find the following points worthy of notice : — 



In 1839 the lowest winter temperature was predicted for 

 January 9, and this was correct. 



In 1840 sixteen days of frost were predicted in February ; 

 eleven of these are noted, and all are on the right days. In 

 March only seven days' rain were predicted, and it is noted as 

 a very dry month throughout. April was predicted to be a 

 mild and fine month, and it was so, though the days of rain, 

 etc., did not agree. In May the prediction was two days rain, 

 thirteen days changeable, the rest fair. Rain was noted 

 on nine days, the rest being fine and mild. June was about 

 equally correct. In the winter frost was predicted for the last 

 two weeks of the year, which was correct. 



In 1 84 1 March was predicted to be a fine, dry, and mild 

 month, which was correct. There was nothing very marked 

 in the rest of the year. 



In 1842 frost was predicted for several days at the end of 

 January and the first week in February, which was correct. 

 April was foretold to have only four days' rain, and the 

 remark of the observer is, " A very dry month." May was to 

 have five days rainy and three changeable, and it is noted as 

 having had "rain on nine days," and as being "a very fine 

 month." In August rain was announced for six days only, 

 and the remark is, ■ Splendid August weather." Then at the 

 end came a great failure, for the last half of December was 

 predicted to be fine and frosty, but turned out to be " very 

 mild and rainy." 



