230 THE NATURAL HISTOEY 



the air was full of icy spicuUe, floating in all directions, like atoms 

 in a sun-beam let into a dark room. We thought them at first 

 particles of the rime falling from my tall hedges ; but were soon 

 convinced to the contrary, by making our observations in open 

 places where no rime could reach us. Were they watery particles 

 of the air frozen as they floated ; or were they evaporations from 

 the snow frozen as they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early in- 

 formation they gave us ; and hurried our apples, pears, onions, 

 potatoes, &c. into the cellar, and warm closets ; while those who 

 had not, or neglected such warnings, lost all their stores of roots 

 and fruits, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during those two Siberian 

 days, my parlour-cat was so electric, that had a person stroked 

 her, and been properly insulated, the shock might have been 

 given to a whole circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe days, 

 two men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had their feet 

 frozen ; and two men, who were much better employed, had 

 their fingers so affected by the frost, while they were thrashing 

 in a barn, that a mortification followed, from which they did not 

 recover for many weeks. 



This frost killed all the furze ^ and most of the ivy, and in many 

 places stripped the hollies of all their leaves. It came at a very 

 early time of the year, before old November ended ; and yet may 

 be allowed from it's effects to have exceeded any since 1739-40. 



LETTER LXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



As the effects of heat are seldom very remarkable in the northerly 

 climate of England, where the summers are often so defective in 

 warmth and sun-shine as not to ripen the fruits of the earth so 

 well as might be wished, I shall be more concise in my account 

 of the severity of a summer season, and so make a little amends 

 for the prolix account of the degrees of cold, and the inconveni- 

 ences that we suffered from late rigorous winters. 



The summers of 1781 and 1783 were unusually hot and dry; 



' [Furze is near its northern limit in England. Even in Scotland it is by com- 

 parison scanty, and on the continent it does not extend north of Denmark.] 



