5^46 METEOllOLOGY. 



hours, a quantity which would be thought large for any two 

 consecutive months in most parts of England. The almost 

 incredible depth of 30 inches occasionally descends in a single 

 month — a fall nearly equal to the calculated yearly average for 

 all other parts of England. Dr. Miller's experiments have, in 

 short, enabled us to collect a number of new and curious facts 

 bearing on the quantity and the very unequal distribution of rain 

 in this island. The law of gradation in the amount of rain 

 between the valleys and the tops of the highest mountains, is also 

 thus ascertained at various intermediate points, with a high 

 degree of probability. 



A little consideration will greatly lesseri our surprise at the 

 enormous quantity of water deposited in the hilly districts of 

 Westmorland and Cumberland. To those unacquainted with 

 these localities, it may be briefly stated, that the Lake District 

 valleys radiate from a series of mountains of slate and primitive 

 rock, having Great Gable (2,954 feet in height,) as a nucleus or 

 central point ; and in the immediate vicinity of which are Scaw- 

 fell and Pillar, of the respective elevations of 3,229 and 2,932 

 feet, and Great End, and Bowfell, and Glaramara not much 

 inferior in altitude. These mountains ai-e distant only about 

 ten to twelve miles, in a direct line, from the Irish Sea, and as 

 no hills intervene, they are consequently fully exposed to our 

 wet and prevailing winds, which are the S. W. The warm 

 south-westerly current arrives at the coast loaded with moisture 

 obtained in its transit across the Atlantic ; and these experiments 

 justify the conclusion, that this current has its maximum density 

 at about 2,000 feet above the sea-level ; hence it will travel on- 

 ward until it is obstructed by land of sufficient elevation to 

 precipitate its vapour ; and, retaining a portion of the velocity of 

 the lower parallels of latitude whence it was originally set iu 

 motion, it rapidly traverses the short space of level country, and 

 with little diminution of its weight or volume ; but on reaching 

 the mountains it meets with a temperature many degrees lower 

 than the point at which it can continue in a state of vapour; 

 sudden condensation consequently ensues, in the form of vast 



