( ^49 ) 
For ifit be true, as fome compute, that this Kingdom was better 
inhabited and husbanded before the Jate bloody war, than at pre- 
fent , it fliouldj according to the reafons alledged for the change 
of temperature in America, be rather grown more intemperate, vizi 
for want of cultivation : But the contrary is obfervable here, and 
every one ahnoft begins to take notice , that this country becomes 
every year more and more temperate. Now whether there were 
more inhabitants in Ireland before the late war than at prefent, I 
(hall not here infifl: upon, neither do I think it an eafy matter 
to determine, yet furel am , that there hath beenno fuch increafe 
of people here within thefe f 6 or 20 years, nor fuch improve- 
ments as to be accountable for the great change of temperature 
that is of lace obferved^ Within lefs than the rime newly mentio- 
ned , twas not unufual to have froft and deep fnowes of a fortnight 
or three weeks continuance ; and that twice or thrice, fometimes 
ofiner in a winter ; nay we have had great rivers and lakes frozen 
all over, whereas of late,erpecially thefe two or three years laftpaft, 
we have had fcarce any fi oft or fnowat all. Neither can I impute 
this extraordinary alteratipn to any fortuitous concourfe of ordi- 
nary circumftances requifit to the produftion of fair weather ; be- 
caufeit ismanifeft, that it hath proceeded gradually, every year 
becoming more temperate than the year preceding. If any in this 
city or country hath kept an exafl: account of the weather for at 
leaft a dozen or fourteen years paft, Idoubtnot but their lournalls 
will verify, what I have only in general obferved, and thus fir 
infilled upon. For my own part, I was never furniOied with 
leifure nor conveniences before this year, to make any obferva- 
tions in particular of this kind 5 my occafions being fuch as requi- 
red a removal from place to place, and for feme time to the If fy?- 
Indies. As for the laftyear, i can only tell you in.gtnerall , thaC 
all the winter was very mild , and warmer than could be well ex- 
pefted from fuch a feafon , and but very little rain ♦ having uvthe 
whole month of February not rained above twice or thrice ( at leaft 
in that part of the country where I was then, ) infomnch that many 
took upon them to predift, that fuch unfeafonable weather would 
certainly be the caufeoffome dearth or peftilence (for all extraor- 
dinary appearances of weather, Meteors, &c. according to the 
Vulgar, muftncedsbeprefagersofMifchief) theenfuing Summer 
or Autumn; but their Prediftions proved asfalfeas the following 
Harveft was extraordinary both for health and plenty. 
This laft winter now newly ended , I have Kept an exaft ac- 
count of wind and weather(as I intend todoc , God willing, 
P p p p 2 for 
