88 METEOROLOGY. 



The mean of the maxima at Penzance was 57'1, lower than that of either of 

 the other localities ; and in the hot months of April, June, and September, 

 it was 57'8, 68-1, and 68-2, being less than that of ScUly, and mnch below 

 that of the other places ; and in June, when the highest temperature of the 

 year was reached — no less than 87° at Helston and 83° at Truro — it did not 

 rise above 73° at Penzance. On the other hand, the mean of the minima or 

 average greatest cold at night, was 48'8 ; so that the temperature was less 

 depressed, taking the whole year into account, than it was even at Scilly ; 

 and in a marked degree less than at the other stations. This difference was 

 occasioned by the greater warmth of the nights of all the months from April 

 to October inclusive ; the average minimum being 54-1 at Penzance, and 52-3 

 at Scilly ; a difference probably attributable to the protection afforded by the 

 barrier of hills against cold di'aughts of air from the sea to the north ; the 

 well sunned slopes to the bay retaining much of the warmth of day. In the 

 other five months the nights were colder than at Scilly, in the proportion 

 of 41-4 to 42-1 ; the warm sea around the islands not being counterbalanced 

 during the winter by the effects of the sun's rays on the mainland. The in- 

 fluence of considerable elevation above the sea, and of distance from it on a 

 central plateau, was strongly marked at Altarnun, by the more intense char- 

 acter of meteorological phsenomena. Thus, in January, the lowest temper- 

 ature was 12°, and there was frost on the grass on 24 nights ; in February, 

 the minimum was 19°, and there were 15 frosty nights ; and it was dry and 

 frosty, with falls of snow, from the 3rd to the 29th of March, the minimiim 

 being 23° : there was frost on 25 nights, and the mean temperature of the 

 week ending on the 28th was 36"5°. Then the heat was no less marked than 

 the cold ; it reached 82° on the 27th and 28th of April ; and in June, the 

 thermometer in the shade stood at 89° on the 21st, and 91° on the 22nd ; 

 and the mean temperature of the week ending on the 27th was 63-7°. Again 

 in September, the maximum was above 70° on 27 days, and above 80° on 

 3 days, reaching 83'5° on the 15th. 



The year has been stated to have been remarkable for extremes. This 

 characteristic was borne out in regard to atmospheric pressure, and the vio- 

 lence of wind. Thus, the barometer was very unusually high, at all the sta- 

 tions, in December, and on the 15th rose to an almost unprecedented degree ; 

 this was most marked at Bodmin, where it reached 30-87 ins., a higher j^oint 

 than had ever been registered before ; and its average height dimng the 

 month was very extraordinary (30'22 ins.). Most violent gales occurred on 

 the 13th and 14th of January, and from the 21st to the 25th of November, 

 amounting to a hurricane on the latter day, when the barometer fell to the 

 lowest point of the year (28-65 ins.). Capt. Liddell observes in regard to 

 Bodmin : — " The terrific gale of November 25th was undoubtedly the heavi- 

 " est ever recorded here," and Mr. Eichards thus describes the succession of 

 storms at Penzance : — " On the 21st the wind freshened at S.W., followed 

 "by a fearful gale at W., which caused the wreck of a Norwegian brig, at 

 " Marazion, from the Mount Pier. The gale moderated towards night, and 

 " the following day the wind was variable. On the 24th, a gale of equal 

 " force was experienced at S.W., marked by the wreck of the brigantine Ta- 

 " baeo on the Eastern Green. It eased for a few hom-s till the following day, 

 " with violent rain ; and Saturday, 25th, witnessed such a gale at S.E. to S. 

 " as has not been remembered for many years. The sea was lashed into one 

 "mass of foam; trees were uprooted and roofs uncovered ; so that it became 

 " dangerous to pass the streets ; shops were closed, and business partially 

 "suspended." This description is true, in its general features, of all the 

 county. "With these exceptions, there was an unusual absence of high winds 

 during the year. 



There was a good deal of electrical disturbance in the Autumnal months ; 



