METEOROLOGY. 203 



them. On finding the arm not broken, they proceeded up with great diffi- 

 culty. The lightning went down altogether 300 fathoms, and ran along the 

 tramroad 300 fathoms more, striking E. Angwin in the foot, and W. Tresise 

 in the chest. All the men underground received a severe electric shock. The 

 ozone was suffocating. No death occurred, nor injury to the ironwork of the ' 

 engine. A man called Archer, working at the stamps engine, was knocked 

 backwards, and the arms of the round huddle machine were knocked away. 

 Mr. G. J. Symons refers to two similar cases, recorded by De Fonvielle, in his 

 popular work. Thunder and Lightning (p. 172, English ed.), one of which 

 occurred on the 26th of May, 1845, at Freyberg, the other on the 5th July, 

 1855, at Himmelsfurth. 



The rainfall in AprHl was only l-3rd the average at Truro. There was a 

 burst of summerlike weather between the 8th and 14th, the temperature 

 rising above 70° through the country. 



3Iaij had, at Truro, a rainfall (5-42 in.) double the average, and the 

 number of rainy days was l-3rd greater than usual. The proportion was 

 much the same at Helston and Bodmin ; and the excess was still more 

 marked at Altarnun, where 7-45 inches fell in 24 days. It was a cold and 

 very unseasonable month. On the 10th a house was struck by lightning at 

 Plymouth, and much damaged ; and on the 17th, 18th, and 19th, destructive 

 thunderstorms were very general up the country. 



In June the rainfall (26) was l-9th the average at Truro, and only on 

 seven days was there any rain at all. But, though fine, the weather was un- 

 geuial ; less so, however, than in many parts, especially in the midland and 

 northern counties. On the 15th there was a thunderstorm in London ; and 

 snow on the Cumberland Hills and in Scotland. 



July was marked by continued dryness ; the rainfall (-35 inch) was 

 only 1 7th the average at Truro. The temperature rose considerably on the 

 3rd, and the month was warm throughout, and everywhere. At Penzance 

 the therm, did not rise above 74, but it\reached 86 at Helston, 79 at Fal- 

 mouth, 81 at Truro, 79 at Bodmin, 90-5 at Altarnun, and 85 at Liskeard. 

 It is remarked by Mr. Eichards, for Penzance, that although the season was 

 so dry, the prevailing winds were S.W. to N.W , usually the moist quarter. 

 Barley was cut at Helston on 16th, oats on 17th. 



August again was unusually dry ; the rainfall at Truro (-48 inch) was less 

 than l-5th the average. In his note for Bodmin, Capt Liddell records "un- 

 exampled drought, which lasted 15 weeks." The highest temperature was 86 

 at Helston, 74 at Falmouth, 85 at Truro, 84 at Bodmin, 88 at Altarnun, and 

 86 at Liskeard. It was on the whole a very fine season for harvest ; wheat 

 was cut at Helston on the Brd. 



The long continued drought ended on the 3rd of September, and this month 

 was very wet, stormy, and mild. There was rain at Truro on 24 days, the aver- 

 age being 15-7 ; and the rainfall (4-46 in.) was one fourth in excess. The gale 

 on the 11th is recorded as "terrific " throughout the county. This was attended 

 with a fall of the barometer of nearly an inch in 12 hours (to 28-87) at 43 

 feet above the sea, and a rise equally rapid to its previous height. Mr. 

 Glaisher remarks for the country generally, that from the 9th to 20th violent 



