310 DR R. E. SCORESBY-JACKSON 



in January 1862 the most remarkable features were the great depth of rain, the 

 large number of rainy days, the large amount of cloud, and the small amount of 

 sunshine, — each of these quantities being more extreme than ever before regis- 

 tered in a January month. The mean temperature was also high, though not to 

 so great a degree." Registrar-General: "January was a comparatively mild 

 month for the season, with a mean temperature rather above the average, an 

 unusual amount of mild south-westerly breezes, a consequently greater fall of 

 rain, and a greater degree of humidity of the atmosphere than is usual during 

 that month. This mild weather was, however, often interrupted by the -wind 

 suddenly veering to the north and east, and blowing with a keenness all the 

 more severely felt, and the more detrimental to the health of the people from the 

 previous mildness." 



January I860.— Meteorological Report : '• For the month of January we thus 

 find that the mean temperature, though 1°"5 higher than that of the preceding 

 months, is yet 1^-7 less than the average of former Januaries, constituting there- 

 fore a particularly severe month, as additionally manifested by the black-bulb 

 temperature by day being 6""2 less than the average, and by night 3^*3 less, — the 

 hours of sunshine being less, and the amount of cloud rather greater. The mean 

 humidity has also been greater, as well as the amount of rain, with an unusual 

 preponderance of north-east wind." Registrar-General : " The past quarter, com- 

 ing as it did after the wintry weather which prevailed during November and 

 December, was one of the most severe which has been experienced in this country 

 for at least thirty-four Januaries, if not for a much longer period." 



Such are the reports of the Aveather of those months whose death-rate is 

 above the average of the six Januaries ; from this point the weather ought to 

 improve. 



January \'$>b7. — Meteorological Report : "January. The weather was as nearly 

 as possible an average in point of severity." Registrar-General : " During January 

 the weather was generally open, though the month began and ended with a snow- 

 storm." This month, although below the average mortality of the six Januaries, 

 still contributes to the maximum section. 



January 1859. — Registrar-General: "The weather during the quarter was 

 mild for the season, but stormy and rainy to an extent scarcely remembered to 

 have been equalled within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. The winds, 

 which, during almost all the quarter, were from the west and south-west, were 

 unusually high, and brought much rain with them." The Meteorological Report 

 is too extensive for quotation ; in substance it is the same as the remarks of the 

 Registrar-General. It should be mentioned, however, that whilst there was a 

 remarkable increase of rain in the western counties, there was at the same time 

 a remarkable deficit in the eastern counties. 



