206 



METEOEOLOGICAL EEPOBT, 186S, 



XI. — Meteorological Reiwrtfor 1868. Edited by the Rev. R. F. 

 Wheeler, M.A. 



The year 1868 was a period of great interest in a meteorological 

 point of view. It was very remarkable in many respects. While 

 the early months were characterized by a great prevalence of 

 stormy winds, which did very great damage to shipping and to 

 harbour works, the summer was one of unusual dryness and 

 heat, not only in England, but on the continent of Europe and 

 in America. The closing months were mild, but with more than 

 an average quantity of wet. 



Some shocks of earthquake were felt at different places in 

 England and Ireland. On January the 4th in Somersetshire, 

 and on the 30th of October over a district extending from Liver- 

 pool to Torquay, and from Pembroke to London. A slight 

 shock was previously felt in Ireland. 



There seems to be a general idea that earthquakes are very 

 rare occurrences in our Islands, but that is far from the true 

 state of the case, as the following list will show : — 



Centm-ies. 



No. of 



British earth- 



qualies. 



SCENE OF OCCURRENCE. 



10th 



11th 



12th 



13th 



14th 



15th 



16th 



17th 



18th 



1 



General. 



Worcester and Derby. 



Nottmgham, Lmcoln, Shrewsbury, London, Dur- 

 ham, and Somerset. 



Kent, London, Bath, Wells, St. Albans, and 

 Chilterns. 



No place named. 



No place named. 



Reigate, Herefordshire, York, Gloucester, Bris- 

 tol, Denbigh, Euthven, London, Dover, Dor- 

 set, and Kent. 



Staffordshire, Oxford, Aylesbury, Burford, Ab- 

 ington, and Bedford. 



General. 



10 



12 



13 



4 



1 



6 



20 



84 





The shocks experienced in England in 1868 were but as the 

 last ripple of the great earth waves which worked such fearful 

 havoc elsewhere. On January the 3rd Vesuvius exhibited great 

 activity, and continued for many months in a very unquiet state, 

 bursting out with extreme violence in November. On March 



