OF SELBORNE 283 



of the air frozen as they floated ; or were they evapora- 

 tions from the snow frozen as they mounted ? 



We were much obUged to the thermometers for the 

 early information they gave us : and hurried our apples, 

 pears, onions, potatoes, etc., 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 Novem- 

 ber ended ; and yet it may be allowed from its effects to 

 have exceeded any since 1739-40. 



LETTER LXIV 



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 sunshine 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 



