28 J. F. Miller, Esq., on the 



quarter for increase in population. In 1841, the population of the 

 town and suburb was 16,635; in 1848, (by a private census) 18,791 ; 

 in 1845, it is assumed to have been the mean of these two periods, 

 or 17,867; and, by the national census of March 31st, 1851, 

 the population was 19,281. The mean of these numbers gives an 

 average population of 18,143, for the thirteen years ending with 

 1851, which is very nearly one-sixteenth less than the number of 

 inhabitants in 1852, assuming it to be the same as in the previous 

 year ; and, it is pretty certain there has been no increase in the last 

 two years. Hence, to render the average quarterly mortality com- 

 parable with that of corresponding periods in the year 1 852, one- 

 sixteenth is added to the absolute or recorded average number of 



o 



deaths for the preceding thirteen years. 



April. — A memorably fine, mild, and dry month. Till the 28th, 

 only one slight shower of rain fell, and the entire fall slightly ex- 

 ceeded an inch. The air was in a remarkably dry state, the mean 

 daily difference between its temperature and that of the vapour- 

 point being 14°6. On the 21st and 22d, the complement of the 

 dew-point amounted to 20 o, 4 and 26°, respectively. 



The perfectly clear days are twelve in number, as many as were 

 recorded throughout each of the years 1849 and 1850. In the ten 

 consecutive days between the 7th and the 16th, there was no appear- 

 ance of cloud, either by day or by night. The temperature is 1 0, 77 

 above the average. The Cabbage butterfly was first seen on the 12th, 

 and the first Swallow on the 23d, both in the immediate vicinity of 

 the town. Swallows appeared in the Lake District about the 23d, 

 and the Cuckoo was heard at Seathwaite on the 23d, and at Lang- 

 dale Head on the 24th. On the 3d, several branches of pear-tree 

 blossom were fully expanded; and, on the 18th, the hedge-rows 

 near St Bees were almost in full leaf. On the 16th, the maximum 

 temperature fell 15° in the preceding twenty-four hours. 



May. — A very fine, but rather cold month, the temperature being 

 1°'16 below the average. Heavy showers fell almost daily between 

 the 7th and the 19th ; the rest of the month was free from rain. 

 On the 1st, the Corn-crake was heard at Bassenthwaite Halls, near 

 the foot of Skiddaw ; and the Cuckoo was also heard for the first time 

 this year. 



June. — Frequent showers, but the sun shone out on twenty-seven 

 days. The temperature is o, 78 below the average, and on the 2d 

 and 3d, a large quantity of hail fell at Whitehaven. On the 21st, 

 we had the first cast of bees at the coast. 



Second Quarter. — The temperature of the quarter ending June 

 30th, is very nearly coincident with the mean of the corresponding 

 period in the previous nineteen years. The deaths are one above 

 the average number. In April and the early part of May, there 

 were many deaths from Phthisis, and pulmonary complaints were 

 unusually fatal. According to the Registrar-General " the mortality 



