OF SEL BORNE. 
295 
fpondents, at Lyndon, in the county of Rutland, the thermometer 
ftood at 19; at Blackburn, in Lancafiire, at 19; and at 
Mancbefter at 21, 20, and 18. Thus does fome unknown 
circumftance (Irangely overbalance latitude, and render the cold 
fonietimes much greater in the fouthern than the northern parts of 
this kingdom. 
The confequences of this feverity were, that in Hampflolre, at 
the melting of the fnow, the wheat looked well, and turnips 
came forth little injured. The laurels and lauruftines were fome- 
what damaged, but only in hot afpeEls. No evergreens were quite 
deftroyed ; and not half the damage fuftained that befell in 
January 1768. Thofe laurels that were a little fcorched on the 
fouth-fides were perfedly untouched on their north-fides. The 
care taken to (hake the fnow day by day from the branches feemed 
greatly to avail the author's evergreens. A neighbour's laurel- 
hedge, in a high fituation, and facing to the north, was perfecTcly 
green and vigorous ; and the Portugal laurels remained unhuiu 
As to the birds, the thruflies and blackbirds were moftly de- 
flroyed ; and the partridges, by the weather and poachers, were 
fo thinned that few remained to breed the following year. 
LETTER 
