HOT SUMMERS. 255 
thaw was observed; and, by January the 3d, 17S5, the thaw was 
confirmed, and some rain fell. 
A circumstance that I must not omit,, because it was new to 
us, is, that on Friday, December the 10th, being bright sun- 
shine, the air was full of icy spicules, floating in all directions, 
like atoms in a sun-beam let into a dark room. We thought them 
at first particles of the rime falling from my tall hedges ; but 
were soon convinced to the contrary, by making our observations 
in open places where no rime could reach us. Were they watery 
particles of the air frozen as they floated ; or were they evapora- 
tions from the snow frozen as they mounted? 
We were much obliged to the thermometers for the early in- 
formation they gave us ; and hurried our apples, pears, onions, 
potatoes, &c. into the cellar, and warm closets ; while those who 
had not, or neglected such warnings, lost all their stores of roots 
and fruits, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. 
I must not omit to tell you that, during those two Siberian 
days, my parlour cat was so electric, that had a person stroked 
her, and been properly insulated, the shock might have been 
given to a whole circle of people. 
I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe days, 
two men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had their feet 
frozen; and two men, who were much better employed, had 
their fingers so aflected by the frost, while they were threshing 
in a barn, that a mortification followed, from which they did not 
recover for many weeks. 
This frost killed all the furze and most of the ivy, and in many 
places stripped the hollies of all their leaves. It came at a very 
early time of the year, before old November ended ; and yet may 
be allov/ed from its effects to have exceeded any since 1739-40. 
LETTER LXIV. To the Hon. DAINES BARRINGTON 
As the eflPects of heat are seldom very remarkable in the north- 
erly climate of England, where the summers are often so defec- 
tive in warmth and sun-shine as not to ripen the fruits of the 
earth so well as might be wished, I shall be more concise in my 
account of the severity of a summer season, and so make a little 
