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VIII. — On the Meteorology of the English Lake District, including the Results of 

 Experiments on the Fall of Rain, the Temperature, the Dew Point, and the 

 Humidity of the Atmosphere, at various heights on the Mountains, up to 

 3166 feet above the Sea Level,— for the years 1851, 1852, and 1853. By John 

 Fletcher Miller, Ph. D., F.R.S., Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, 

 Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Member of the British Meteoro- 

 logical Society, Corresponding Member of the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society of Manchester, &c. 



(Communicated 1st May 1854.) 

 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The experiments on the rain-fall in the lake district valleys were commenced 

 in 1844, — the mountain gauges were planted in the spring of 1846, — the hygro- 

 metrical observations were instituted at the beginning of the year 1852, — and the 

 entire investigation was brought to a close at the end of the year 1853, when its 

 main objects were considered to have been satisfactorily answered and attained. 



The tabular observations and general results of the inquiry up to the close of 

 the year 1850, were communicated to the Royal Society of London in four papers, 

 which are published in the Philosophical Transactions of that body. The fifth 

 and concluding paper (comprising the observations, &c. for the years 1851-53 

 inclusive) I have now the honour to present to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



In all previous publications, I have thought it desirable to notice any acci- 

 dents or occurrences which interfered with the continuity of the experiments, or 

 which might affect the accuracy of the tabular or comparative results. As was 

 to be expected, from the great number of instruments in operation, and the ex- 

 posed situation of many of them, such mishaps, either designed or fortuitous, oc- 

 casionally occur; nor is the past triennial period exempted from its share of 

 casualties. 



Early in February 1852, the Langdale Head Gauge was thrown into the river 

 by some mischievous person, and rendered useless ; a new instrument was imme- 

 diately made and forwarded, which was stolen early in November the same year, 

 and the station was then abandoned. 



On the 6th of March 1852, a new and extra strong metal bottle was forwarded 

 for the Stye Head Gauge. The old receiver, when examined at Whitehaven, was 

 found to be water-tight when perfectly upright or level, but it leaked very slowly 

 when placed on a slightly inclined surface. The loss by leakage at this station 

 during the winter of 1851-2, if any, must have been trifling. 



VOL. xxi. part i. z 



