( XII ) 
ON 
THE METEOROLOGY OF ENGLAND 
DtrEING 
THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1859. 
By JAMES G L A I S H E E, Esq., F.E.S., 
SEC. OP HIE ERIIISH METEOEOLOGICAL SOCIETT. 
From October 1st to the 20tli tlie weather was very fine, and the 
average excess of daily temperature was (>°. On the 21st a sudden 
and xevj seveve cold set in ; the depressions below their average 
temperature on the 21st and 22nd exceeded 12° on both days, and 
were as much as 15° below on the 23rd, and nearly 16° on the 24th ; 
the daily average defect of temperature from October 21st to the 
end of the month, was 8^° nearly. From ?v ovember 1st to 8th was 
warm ; the daily excess of temperatme was 3f °. A cold period set 
in on November 9th, and continued, with the exception of a ver\- 
few days, to December 23rd ; the cold was very severe between 
December 14th and 19th, paiiicularly so fi-om 16th to 19th; the 
defect of temperature on these days amounting to 15", 17°, 16i°, and 
1 bi° respectively ; the average daily defect of temperature for the 
45 days ending December 23rd was 2^°. From December 24th to 
the end of the year was warm, particularly on the last two days, 
when excesses of temperature over their averages were 13° and 15° 
respectively, and for the eight days ending December 31st averaged 
8° daily. 
Both the days and nights in Octobei* were moderately warm ; in 
November the days were of their average warmth, but the nights 
were cold ; and both the days and nights in December were very 
cold. 
The mean temperature of October was 1^° in excess; November 
was H°, and December was 3i° in defect, as compared with the 
average of the 18 preceding years. 
The mean temperature of the whole year Avas 50'^-8, being 2°'5 
above the average of 88 years. 
The mean temperature of the dew-point was above its average in 
October, and below it in November and December. The degree of 
hiunidity for the qiiarter is that of the average. 
The reading of the barometer was low in October ; it increased 
0-3 inch generally by November, and was 0'2 inch lower in December 
than in tlie preceding month. 
The fall of rain in the quarter was 8| inches, exceeding the average 
by 1-6 inch. The fall in the year amounted to 25'9 inches, exceeding 
the average by half an inch; this is the first year since 1854 that 
the fall of rain has not been short of the average. 
The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich for the three 
months ending November, constituting the three autumn months, 
was 49°-9, being 0°-7 below the average of 88 years. 
