OF SELBORNE. 
LETTER LXV, 
TO THE SAME. 
We are very feldom annoyed with thunder-ftorms : and it is no 
lefs remarkable than true, that thofe which arife in the fouth have 
hardly been known to reach this village ; for, before they get over 
us, they take a diredion to the eaft or to the weft, or fometimes 
divide into two, and go in part to one of thofe quarters, and in 
part to the other ; as was truly the cafe in fummcr 1783, when, 
though the country round was continually haralTed with tempefls, 
and often from the fouth, yet we efcaped them all ; as appears by 
my journal of that fummer. The only way that I can at all 
account for this fad: — for fuch it is — is that, on that quarter, 
between us and the fea, there are continual mountains, hill behind 
hill, fuch as Nore-hill, the Barnet, Butfer-hill, and Ports-doTvn, 
which fome how divert the ftorms, and give them a dilferent 
diredion. High promontories, and elevated grounds, have always 
been obferved to attrad clouds and difarm them of their mif- 
ehievous contents, which are difcharged into the trees and 
fummits as foon as they come in contad with thofe turbulent 
meteors ; while the humble vales efcape, becaufe they are fo far 
beneath them. 
But, when I fay I do not remember a thunder-ftorm from the 
fouth, I do not mean that we never have fufFered from thunder- 
flornis 
