482 Mr . Barker’s Regiftsr of 
The froft, which began at Chriftmas laft year, continued, 
except a few thawing days, till February 21, and was very 
fevere, and with frequent fnow. Some thought it the hardeft 
winter fince 1740; but that may be hard to determine. Ja- 
nuary 1776 feems to have been rather colder than this; but 
the froft lafted only a month. In 1780 the- froft was not out 
of the ground for nine or ten weeks; but it was not fo Heady 
as this. It was certainly one of the mildeft winters before 
Chriftmas, and one of the fevered: after it ; yet the com and 
other plants did not fuffer fo much as might her feared. After 
the froft there was fome warm, windy, (howery weather ; but 
rnoft part of March was frofty mornings, and was often fo in 
the ftiade all day ; and at the latter end ftrong cold winds, 
with fnow and perfect winter ; and it did not much mend till 
near the middle of April. 
While in January and February moft parts of Europe had 
fevere froft, the fouthern parts of it feern to have had great 
forms and floods ; and, at the breaking of the froft, the flat 
countries by the tides of the great rivers of Europe fuffered 
much by floods and ice. 
The latter half of April the weather mended, and things 
came on gradually, yet with frequent frofty mornings till the 
flrft week in May; then, for three weeks, one of the fineft 
and hotteft Mays ever known ; every thing before was exceed- 
ing backward, but now came on at a vaft rate ; the grafs and 
leaves were remarkably green, a great bloflom year, and plenty 
of fruit. This hot weather brought up thunder, which turned 
the weather wet near the end of May, and it was wet or 
ihowery and cool all June; this brought on the corn again, 
which was made rather thin by fo much heat too early. Near 
the flrft two thirds of July was again fine and hot, and being 
in 
