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IV.—Notice of an unusual Fall of Rain in the Lake District, in January 1829. 
By Joun Davy, M.D., F.R.S., London and Edinburgh. 
(Read 4th April 1859.) 
The rain experienced in January of this year has so much exceeded the aver- 
age quantity, considerable as that is in the Lake District,* that I have been led 
to consider it worthy of record, especially keeping in mind, that as regards risks 
from floods, it is not the ordinary, but the extraordinary that is to be guarded 
against in the construction of all works with which water is concerned as an ele- 
ment of danger. 
It may not be amiss to premise, that the year preceding, as to weather, was 
chiefly remarkable for the mildness of the first quarter, for its high summer tem- 
perature, for the unusual cold experienced in November, and this succeeded by a 
mild December. January set in with weather of the same character, and was 
without any marked peculiarity, excepting its mildness, till the 9th, when rain 
commenced, and, with the exception of two or three days, continued to fall more 
or less heavily till the end of the month. 
The maximum and minimum temperature during the month, and the prevail- 
ing winds, are shown in the following table, for which I am indebted to Mr 
SAMUEL MarsHatt of Kendal. His observations made in that town are applicable, 
with certain allowances, to the Lake District generally. I have selected them, 
having great reliance in his accuracy as an observer :— 


TABLE I. 
Xo, pee e || ghee Winds 
1 46 38°5 S.W. 
2 45 335 S.W. 
3 45 34 S.W. 
4 47 36 S.W. 
5 47 40 S.W. 
6 43 40 S. 
7 45 30 8. 
8 34 28 NE. 
* The rain-fall at Lesketh How, Ambleside, in January, during the preceding six years, has 
averaged 4:22 inches. 
In 1853 it was 1:62 inches. In 1856 it was 6°96 inches. 
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VOL. XXII. PART I. L 
