Meteorological Features. 517 



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gfeen-gage plum ; and why should not the same spirit of 

 improvement be directed towards those parts of Cumberland 

 and Westmoreland which, I'elatively to man, are as wild as 

 the crab or the sloe ? All objects and things ought to be 

 judged of with referenc^o the whole of human nature, and 

 not with reference only to some particular pai't of it. 



The Climate, proceeding northwards as far as Manchester, 

 becomes gradually colder ; but from Manchester to Liverpool 

 the temperature is somewhat increased, owing to the vicinity 

 of the sea. In proportion as we approach the sea, the 

 quantity of rain wliich falls increases ; and hence the produc- 

 tion of bogs in Lancashire, Cumberland, and Dumfriesshire, 

 in situations where the natural drainage was defective. At 

 the same time, the soil along the sea coast, from Chester to 

 Dumfries, and as far in the interior as the land continues flat, 

 being generally sandy, is well adapted for a wet climate ; and 

 those parts of it which are now covered with peat bog, when 

 drained, will be as well fittted for agriculture as the rest. 

 The climate in the lake district is cold and moist, and the soil 

 retentive ; that country is therefore better adapted for pasture 

 and woodlands than for aration. 



The weather during July has been remarkably warm, with 

 frequent showers ; and on the whole the agricultural crops 

 and woods never looked better. The crops of fruit, however, 

 are generally defective, though we believe they are better in 

 the neighbourhood of Manchester and Chester than they are 

 either farther north or farther south. On the 15th of July 

 a dreadful hailstorm happened at Penruddock, about six 

 miles from Penrith, on the road between that town and Kes- 

 wick. It extended over a tract of country nearly two miles 

 in diameter, totally destroying the field crops, and killing 

 many of the birds, hares, rabbits, and poultry. The hares 

 took shelter in the same shed with men and cattle. The leaves 

 of the large Tbssilago, by the roadside, and those of all the 

 crops in the cottage gardens were cut into shreds ; the potato 

 leaves and stems were lacerated, and every stalk of corn was 

 broken. Two extensive farmers lost every thing but their 

 cattle. The storm began in darkness, about four o'clock in 

 the afternoon, and continued nearly two hours ; the hailstones 

 which fell were from 4 to 6 in. round ; they formed a body in 

 many places from 15 to 18 in. deep; and lay on the ground 

 three days before they were all melted. 



The Plants in the red sandstone have been nearly the same 

 from Banbury to Dumfries : the only changes have resulted 

 from difference in elevation, or in the degree of moisture ; 

 some changes, but not many, may have been the result of 



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