tides of the rime falling from my tall hedges ; but 

 were soon convinced to the contrary, by making our 

 observations in open places where no rime could 

 reach us. Were they watery particles of the air 

 frozen as they floated ; or were they evaporations 

 from the snow frozen as they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for 

 the early information they gave us ; and hurried our 

 apples, pears, onions, &c., into the cellar, and warm 

 closets; while those who had not such warnings, or 

 neglected them, lost all their stores of roots and 

 fruits, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you, that, during those 

 two Siberian days, my parlour-cat was so electric, 

 that had a person stroked her, and been properly in- 

 sulated, the shock might have been given to a whole 

 circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two 

 severe days, two men, who were tracking hares in 

 the snow, had their feet frozen ; and two others, who 

 were much better employed, had their fingers so 

 affected by the frost, while they were thrashing in a 

 barn, that a mortification followed, from which they 

 did not recover for many weeks. 



This frost killed all the furze and most of the ivy, 

 and in many places stripped the hollies of all their 

 leaves. It came at a very early time of the year, be- 

 fore old November ended ; and yet may be allowed 



from its effects to have exceeded any since 1739-40. 



190 



