284 
NATURAL HISTORY 
LETTER LX. 
TO THE SAME. 
In reading Dr. Huxham's Obfervatlones de Aire, &c. written at Ply- 
mouth, I find by thofe curious and accurate remarks, which con- 
tain an account of the weather from the year 1727 to the year 
1748, incluiive, that though there is frequent rain in that diftrict 
of Devonjlme, yet the quantity falling is not great ; and that fome 
years it has been very fmall ; for in 1731 the rain meafured only 
17""^^. — 266'^'^'^"'. and in 1741, 20 — 354; and again, in 1743 only 
20 — 908. Places near the fea have frequent feuds, that keep 
the atmofphere moift, yet do not reach far up into the country; 
making thus the maritime fituations appear wet, when the raia 
is not confiderable. Tn the wetteft years at Plymouth the Dodor 
meafured only once 36 ; and again once, viz. 1734, 37 — 114 : a 
quantity of rain that has twice been exceeded at Selborne in the 
lliort period of my obfervations. Dr. Huxham remarks that fre- 
quent fmall rains keep the air moift; while heavy ones render it 
more dry, by beating down the vapours. He is alfo of opinion 
that the dingy, fmoky appearance in the &y, in very dry feafons, 
arifes from the want of moifture fufficient to let the light through, 
and render the atmofphere tranfparent; becaufe he had obferved 
ftveral bodies more diaphanous when wet than dry; and did never 
recoiled that the i.ir had that look in rainy feafons. 
My 
