Transactions. 85 
Barometer.—The highest reading occurred on the 3rd day of 
January, when it rose to 30°67 in., and the lowest on 11th of 
February, when it fell to 28-587 in., giving an annual range of 
2110 in. There is reason to believe, however, that a considerably 
lower fall than that of the 11th February took place on the night 
of the 21st or morning of the 22nd December, the period of the 
recent severe storm, when so much damage was done both by sea 
and land. The reading of the barometer at 9 a.m. of the 22nd 
was 28°590 in., a fraction higher than that of the 11th February. 
But before that hour it had began to rise, and the deepest part of 
the depression in all probability passed over this district in the 
early morning, perhaps between 2 and 4 or3and5 a.m. This 
may certainly be inferred from the fact that in other places 
where barometer readings were taken every hour during the 
progress of the storm decidedly lower readings were registered. 
At Leith, for example, where this was done, the barometer fell to 
28-119 in. between 6 and 6.30 a.m., and by 9 a.M. it had risen to 
28°384 in. As the movement of the cyclone was from 8.8. W. to 
N.N.E., the centre of the depression must have passed over 
Dumfries at an earlier hour than 6 4.M., most probably between 
2 and 4 A.m., and there is no reasonable doubt would have shown, 
if registered, an equally low reading with that at Leith. The 
fluctuations of that period were extraordinary, and are believed 
to have been almost unprecedented for the rapidity both of fall 
and rise. At 9 a.m. of the 21st the reading of the barometer was 
29:°905 in., by 9 p.m. it had fallen to 29-383 in.; and if our 
inference is correct, that by 4 a.m. of the 22nd it had gone down 
to about 28:20 in., this would have shown a fall of 1-7 in. in 19 
hours ; but it rose again with almost equal rapidity. During the 
twelve hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. of the 22nd the rise was from 
28:590 in. to 29°810 in., and by the morning of the 23rd it had 
risen to 30 in. On the 28th and 29th December there was a 
somewhat similar storm, with a rapid fall and rise of the 
barometer, but of considerably less intensity, although severe 
enough to do a good deal of damage. The fall on that occasion 
was from 30:189 in. on the morning of the 28th to 29-033 on 
that of the 29th—a fall of 1:15€ in. in 24 hours. It may be 
observed also that the February cyclone was accompanied by very 
strong squalls and extremely heavy rainfall. The depth of the 
river Nith at the New Bridge, as shown by the gauge, was 10 feet; 
and a good many trees and chimney cans were blown down. On 
