WEATHER. 
253 
times there are no dews, and the air remains 
hot all the night through. For days together 
in Philadelphia, the thermometer has been ob¬ 
served never to be lower than SQ !J during any 
part of the twent}'-four hours. 
I observe now that meat can never be 
kept, but in an ice house or a remarkable 
cold cellar, for one day, without being tainted. 
Milk generally turns sour in the course of one 
or two hours .after it comes from the cow: 
Fish is never brought to market without being 
covered with lumps of ice, and notwith¬ 
standing that care, it frequently happens that 
it is not fit to be eat. Butter is brought to 
market likewise in ice, which they generally 
have in great plenty at every farm house ; 
indeed it is almost considered as a necessary 
of life, in these low parts of the country. 
Poultry intended for dinner is never killed till 
about four hours before the time it is wanted, 
and then it is kept immersed in water, without 
which precaution it would be tainted. Not¬ 
withstanding all this, I have been told, that 
were I to stay in Philadelphia till the latter 
end of July or beginning of August, I should 
hud the heat much more intolerable than it 
has been hitherto. Most of the other large 
sea port towns, south of Philadelphia, are 
equally hot and disagreeable in summer ; and 
