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LVI. Upon the supposed Changes of the Climate of m 

 England. By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. Pre- 

 sident, F. R. S. fa. 



Read May 5, 1829. 



There are, I believe, few persons who have noticed, and 

 who can recollect, the state of the climate of England half a 

 Century ago, who will not be found to agree in opinion 

 that considerable changes have taken place in it ; and that 

 our Winters are now generally warmer than they were at that 

 period. The opinions of such persons would be entitled to 

 very little attention if they were adduced to prove that our 

 climate has grown colder, because they themselves being far 

 advanced in life, and therefore less patient of cold, and being 

 also incapable of bearing the same degree of exercise which 

 kept them warm in youth, might be readily drawn to con- 

 clude that the severity of our winters has. increased. But 

 when their evidence tends to prove that our winters have 

 grown warmer, it cannot, I think, reasonably be rejected. 

 My own habits and pursuits, from a very early period of 

 my life to the present time, have led me to expose myself 

 much to the weather in all seasons of the year, and under all 

 circumstances ; and no doubt whatever remains in my mind 

 but that our Winters are generally a good deal less severe 

 than formerly, our Springs more cold and ungenial, our 

 Summers, and particularly the latter parts . of them, as warm 



