6 Observations on the State of the IV eather, Kc. mn 1SO%. FF eb. 1, 
according to the sense, either “ @ su- 
reme delight, or “ the supreme de- 
hight,” in which not comparison, but, 
perhaps, mere intension, is implied. 
‘These words are, therefore, not used as 
superlatives of comparison, which must 
be preceded by the, but,as the positive 
state of an adjective. That, from their 
nature, they may imply very, and thus be 
eguivalent to what is named the superla- 
tive of eminence, I will notdeny; but, in 
reality, such superlatives denote compa- 
rison, or the nature of a relative state, 
no other way than the simple adjective 
does. Theclassical scholar 1s well aware 
that the Roma ns themselves treated even 
_ their own ack nowledged superlatives 
“-sometimes as positives, forming a com- 
parison upon them; hence we fmd er- 
tremus, extremior, extremissimus ; pos- 
tremus, postremior, postremissimus. But L 
am wander ing from the question. [ shall, 
therefore, only add, that, from the little 
which has been said, it does appear that 
the reason why the words referred to by 
your querist ave not followed in English 
by than, the word denoting compar ison, 
is, that, although they may not, perhaps, 
be quite div ested of their primitive com- 
parative nature, they are not generally 
considered to have, in English, the full 
sense and ara signification of the 
words usually and grammatically deem- 
ed, in this language, comparatives,— 
Were.) disposed to hazard a conjec- 
ture why they cannot be construed as 
English comparatives, it would depend 
upon a supposed meaning of the termi- 
nation used in English comparison, and 
upon the nature of the English than. 
What the Latin termination or, used in 
comparison, may be, or whether it has 
any athnity to the English ev, it is beside 
the present purpose to investigate; but 
the English ev seems to be the Saxon er 
or ere, denoting priority. Than or then 
is an adverb of time, equivalent to tw 
tumc, being probably a certain form of 
the Saxon or Gothic article, set apart 
chiefly for the designation of time. Ac- 
cording to this view of the matter, if it 
be correct, the real nature and rationale 
of English comparison are obvious. “ You 
are wiser thun I,” means * You are wise. 
ere (first or before) then 1.” - But, as I 
have already mentioned, this is given as 
a conjecture; in my own opinion, a very 
natural and plausible ene, coneerning 
vhich T may, perhaps, wake some re- 
marks hereafter. Should you deem these 
few hasty observations in any degree an- 
swerable to Mr. Singleton’s query, they 
will be, so far at least, not unworthy of 
Insertion. Your’ s, &c. 
Crouch End, J. Grant. 
Jan. 5, 1808. 
<a 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Merrorotocircat ABSTRACT tor the last twel ve Months at Carlisle. 
eine Meh Foe 
_ ie Sw. | Bo 
Thermometer. Barometer. Rain. 7 |S. W. NE 
, ; 2.2/5. &IN. & 
Hish, | Low.| Mean, | High. | Low. Mean, Inches. [2 [>> =| RNG 
January ......-----] 49 | 17 |37,83 | 30,74] 28,85] 29,94 so] 19 | 24} 7 
february Were Pee ch) Sh 2k 137,84 1 350,68) 28,88) 29,631 3,17) 20 dae tA 
Rbaptehs See Se SVE 2a ae ys 80,66} 28,93} 30,03 76) 16 9 29 
PED psc ee ee TA 1-95 144,95 | 30,25) 23,92) 29,874 1,88] 19 | 18 a 
oe ae en aes pes 85 | 36 [51,96 } 30,52| 28,88] 29,8335 DAT Soo Gee 21 
ee ee ee at 68 | 47.156,05 | 30,33] 29,44] 29,9787} 1,591 19] 24] 6 
Lee aie ropes aie 73 | 50 [68,40 | 50,50; 29,48) 29,858 2,45) 19 125 6 
ASCs gamle Sse ees 74 1 50 }61,22 | 30,21} 29,53] 29,843 1,95) 25°F 2g 9 
Se PECRADET (222 foes 64 {| 335 [48,20 | 30,20) 29,08) 29,742 5,37; 18 | 14 16 
Crctober he awa kiss 2 65 | 52 Pot,ot } 50,16) 29,20) 29,794 5,50) e2 Wee S 
Wovempercno sees a < 91 | 18 135,29 | 30,23] 28,67) 29,491 2531-20 babe 15 
December. .i 2.2.2. f S07 16 496,08 es 28,80} 29,816 1,50].17 |} B2 9 
a a a ap es 
Annual Mean. 46,4641 Annual Mean.| 29,8192] 27,75)2¥5 |226 | 139 
| Total | Pot. |Tot.|Por 
General Remarks on the Weather, &c. 
observed at Carlisle during tie Year 
1807. 
January, with regard to temperature, 
was remarkably variable, yet the weather 
was generally mud and calm, and not un- 
pleasant for the season. In the evening 
of the 3d, was visible for about ten un- 
nutes, a very brilliant aurora borealis, al- 
so on the 14th, which overspread the 
whoie 
