NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 269 



LETTER LX. 



In reading Dr. Huxam's Ohservationes de Aere, etc., 

 written at Plymouth, I find by those curious and accurate 

 remarks, which contain an account of the weather from the 

 year 1727 to the year 1748, inclusive, that though there is 

 frequent rain in that district of Devonshire, yet the quantity 

 falling is not great ; and that some years it has been very 

 small : for in 1731 the rain measured only 17-266 in. ; and 

 in 1741, 20-354 in. ; and again, in 1743, only 20-908 in. 

 Places near the sea have frequent scuds, that keep the 

 atmosphere moist, yet do not reach far up into the country ; 

 making thus the maritime situations appear wet, when the 

 rain is not considerable. In the wettest years at Plymouth 

 the Doctor measured only once 36 ; and again once, viz., 

 1734, 37*114 in. — a quantity of rain that has twice been 

 exceeded at Selborne in the short period of my observations. 

 Dr. Huxam remarks that frequent small rains keep the air 

 moist ; while heavy ones render it more dry, by beating 

 down the vapours. He is also of opinion that the dingy, 

 smoky appearance in the sky, in very dry seasons, arises 

 from the want of moisture sufficient to let the light through, 

 and render the atmosphere transparent; because he had 

 observed several bodies more diaphanous when wet than 

 dry, and did never recollect that the air had that look in 

 rainy seasons. 



My friend, who lives just beyond the top of the down, 

 brought his three swivel guns to try them in my outlet, 

 with their muzzles towards the Hanger, supposing that the 

 report would have had a great effect ; but the experiment 

 did not answer his expectation. He then removed them to 

 the alcove on the Hanger, when the sound, rushing along 



