LETTER CIV. 

 To THE Honourable Daines Barrington. 



In reading Dr. Huxham's Observationes de Aere, 

 &c., written at Plymouth, 1 find by those curious 

 and accurate remarks which contain an account of 

 the weather from the year 1727 to the year 1748, in- 

 clusive, that though there is frequent rain in that dis- 

 trict of Devonshire, yet the quantity falling is not 

 great ; and that some years it has been very small : 

 for in 1 73 1 the rain measured only 17^"^^. — 266'^°". 

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

 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: a 

 quantity of rain that has twice been exceeded at 

 Selborne in the short period of my observations. 

 Dr. Huxham 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 opin- 

 ion 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 ; 



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