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XXVII. On the Meteorology of the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmoreland, 
including the Results of Experiments on the Fall of Rain at various heights, up 
to 3166 feet above the sea-level. — Fourth paper, for the year 1850. By John 
Fletcher Miller, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. ^c. 
Received February 21, — Read March 13, 1851. 
Introductory Remarks. 
In the month of December last I visited the Lake District, chiefly with the view of 
ascertaining approximately, the heights above the sea of some of the mountain gauges 
which I have hitherto been obliged to estimate. The heights of these stations 
were taken by means of an excellent aneroid barometer (previously compared with a 
standard), and a standard barometer read simultaneously, or nearly so, at the sea- 
level. By this method I found the height of Cockermouth above the sea to be 127 
feet, Keswick 253 feet (Crosthwaite 258 feet), Bassenthwaite Lake and Lowdore 
(measured from Kesv/ick) 214 and 224 feet respectively; Seathwaite (mean of two 
observations calculated from Lowdore) 368 feet ; from Wastdale Head, 399 feet ; and 
taken direct from the sea-level, 389 feet. I find the summit of Seatollar Common to 
be about 1590 feet, and the gauge 1388 feet above the sea, assuming the elevation of 
Seathwaite to be 368 feet ; the gauge on Sprinkling Fell or the Stye, 948 feet, mea- 
sured from Wastdale, and 936 feet by a simultaneous barometrical reading at the 
coast. Two distinct observations taken on the 16th and 17th of December, show the 
gauge near the top of Stye Head Pass to be 1443 and 1448 feet above the sea re- 
spectively, supposing the height of Wastdale Head village to be 247 feet. Mr. Otley 
states the summit of the Pass to be 1250 feet above the valley, or, taking Wastdale 
Head at 247 feet, 1497 feet above the sea; and an observation of Dr. Dalton’s from 
the same base, gives 1506 feet, both of which correspond very nearly with my own 
results, as the gauge is somewhat below the highest part of the road leading over the 
Pass. I have hitherto stated the height of this station to be 1250 feet, but it appears 
I have misinterpreted my authority (Mr. Otley), whose calculation represents the 
height above the valley, not above the sea. The gauges on Brant Rigg and on 
Lingmell appear to be 924 and 1778 feet respectively above the sea. At the latter 
station, the barometer fell to 27*00 in., while in the valley it stood at 28’67 in., and at 
Whitehaven at 28*86 in. Temperature in the valley 48° ; at 1778 feet, 32°’8, wet bulb 
32°'2, heavy rain falling. I was prevented from ascending to any of the higher sta- 
tions by the unfavourable state of the weather ; indeed the barometrical observation 
at Brant Rigg, and also a second reading on Stye Head were taken at night, after 
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