Worcester, 95°; at Nottingham, 92.5°; and at Greenwich, 89.8°. During the night of the 23rd the temperature did not fall below 66.5°, which is the highest night temperature which I have ever recorded. Thunder storms were frequent, and the fall of rain, consequently, above the average.

September.

"Nay, gather not that filbert, Nicholas,
There is a maggot there—it is his house,
His castle. Oh! commit no burglary!
Strip him not naked, 'tis his clothes, his shell,
His bones, the case and armour of his life,
And thou shalt do no murder, Nicholas !
It were an easy thing to crack that nut,
Or, with thy crackers or thy double teeth,
So easily may all things be destroyed;
But 'tis not in the power of mortal man
To mend the fracture of a filbert shell.

SOUTHEY.

This is the first of the autumnal months, and very variable in its character. In some years it has been like one of the spring months, while in others it has proved the hottest month of the year, with brilliant skies and great drought. The mean temperature is materially affected by the reduction in the length of day; nevertheless, in warm autumns, after a rather cool season, its general character is that of true summer. When the month is fine there is not a more delightful period of the year, on account of that peculiar softness and serenity of atmosphere, which is seldom experienced in any other month. In such seasons the equinoctial gales are usually deferred till October. It was a very hot month in the years 1843, 1846, 1857, 1858, and 1865. September, 1843, was an extraordinary instance of late summerlike heat. On the first day the temperature rose to 90° in the shade on the 2nd, 87°; and on ten other days the highest daily temperature ranged from 80° to 85.5°. I believe there is no other instance on record of such continued heat at this period of the year. The heat of September, 1846, was a continuance of the great heat of the two previous months, and it was not till

the morning of the 29th that there was any warning of autumn's approach. The daily temperature during the first three weeks ranged from 70° to 82.5°, and at night it very rarely fell below 50° till the 29th. No rain fell during the first three weeks.

Another remarkable instance of splendid weather in September occurred in the year 1865. With the exception of a very slight shower on the 21st no rain fell during the month, while on fifteen days the sky was absolutely cloudless. The mean temperature was considerably below, and the fall of rain above, the average. A crisis generally occurs about the time of the equinox, and wherever the wind happens to be at that time, from it we may frequently determine the character of the weather during the ensuing quarter. Moreover, it has occasionally happened that when the wind is prevalent from the N.E. at this time, a severe winter has followed; but if from S.W. then a mild one. This, however, is not an invariable rule. Westerly winds are by

far the most prevalent, but they occasionally yield to those from

N.E.

October.

"From oak to oak they run with eager haste,
And, wrangling, share the first delicious taste
Of fallen acorns; yet but thinly found

Till the strong gale has shook them to the ground.
It comes, and roaring woods obedient wave.
Their home, well pleased, the joint adventurers leave;
The trudging sow leads forth her numerous young,
Playful, and white and clean, the briers among,
Till briers and thorns increasing, fence them round,
Where last year's mould'ring leaves bestrew the ground;
And o'er their heads, loud lashed by furious squalls,
Bright from their cups the rattling treasure falls ;
Hot, thirsty food, whence doubly sweet and cool,
The welcome margin of some rush-grown pool."

BLOOMFIELD.

This month is frequently stormy and wet. The fall of rain exceeds that of any other month. The decrease of temperature is considerable, being more than 6 degrees less than September; nevertheless, the month is often warm, considering the shortness of

the days, thus compensating for the cold of the longer days in April and May. After heavy rains the sky is particularly blue, and in warm seasons is dotted with the beautiful cirro-cumulus cloud. The gossamer web decks the hedges and stubble of the corn fields, indicating thereby a further continuation of fine weather. On some of the finest evenings we still have some beautiful sunsets, and a deep rosy tint extends far along the horizon. The first frosty mornings now occur, which are often the precursors of rain. Thunder storms rarely happen, unless the first half of the month has been warmer than usual.

During the latter half of the month gales of wind are frequent from S.W., which cause considerable depressions of the barometer, and a low, mean daily reading. The cause of this depression is supposed to originate from the great change of temperature which usually takes place towards the end of the month. Hence there is a loss of balance in the amount of vapour contained in the equatorial and polar currents. When the latter gains any amount of vapour which the former loses the exchange will perhaps account for the greater rainfalls, and the frequent gales of wind with which we are visited at this season of the year. Instances of unusual warmth occurred in the years 1847, 1851, 1856, 1857, and 1861. On October 12th, 1847, the maximum temperature in the shade was 71°. This month continued very warm throughout, with a great prevalence of westerly wind, and a moderate rainfall. October, 1856, was a warm and pleasant month, when the average highest daily temperature was upwards of 62°, and it frequently ranged between 65° and 68° during the second and third weeks. In October, 1857, the heat was unusually great, and on three days the maximum temperature in the shade ranged between 70° and 74°, while it was 72° so late as the 16th. The warmest October, however, was that in the year 1861, when the mean temperature was 4.5° above the average. On four days the temperature in the shade was 70° and upwards. N.E. winds. were prevalent, and the rainfall was below the average. weather prevailed in the years 1842, 1844, 1850, and 1867. 1842 severe frosts occurred on eleven nights, and on the mornings of both the 21st and 22nd the temperature fell to twelve degrees below the freezing point, and the frosty efflorescence on the

Cold

In

windows reminded us of mid-winter. In some parts of England the cold was even more severe than in Sussex. The mean temperature of October, 1844, was more than four degrees below the average. Sharp frosts occurred on several nights, and rain fell more or less on twenty-one days. October, 1850, was also very cold, and the mean temperature was nearly six degrees below the average. Although the fall of rain was inconsiderable, yet very stormy weather prevailed on the 6th and 23rd. Sharp frosts occurred both at the middle and end of the month. October, 1867, was almost as cold as the previous instance, and unusually severe frosts were recorded during the first fortnight. On the morning of the sixth the temperature of radiation was fifteen degrees below the freezing point. Although rain fell on 15 days, yet the total amount was not equal to the average. Westerly winds are by far the most prevalent.

November.

"Thus wears the month along in chequered moods,
Sunshine and shadows, tempests loud, and calms;
One hour dies silent o'er the sleepy woods,
The next wakes loud with unexpected storms;

A dreary nakedness the field deforms.

Yet many a rural sound and rural sight

Lives in the village still about the farms,

While toil's rude uproar hums from morn till night;
Noises in which the ears of industry delight.

At length the stir of rural labours still,

And industry awhile her care foregoes,
When winter comes in earnest to fulfil

His yearly task at bleak November's close.

CLARE.

This is the most dreary month of the year, and, with a very few exceptions, the atmosphere is for the most part unsettled, gloomy, and damp. The S.W. wind is prevalent, and most of the heaviest gales of wind on record have occurred in this month. A sudden decrease of temperature may at any time be expected, with sharp frosts and slight falls of snow; but very severe frosts seldom commence till the last week, and are not usually of long continuance. Although the month is characterised by a general cloudiness of sky, and a considerable number

D

of wet days, yet great variation is observed in the actual amount of rainfalls. In a series of years the mean quantity a little exceeds that for September, but is considerably less than that for October. Instances of unusual warmth in November occurred in the years 1846, 1847, 1852, and 1857. During the first week in November, 1846, the temperature was at or above 60° on three days, and up to summer heat in the full rays of the sun. In November, 1847, the temperature of the two first days was remarkably high—higher, indeed, both in the shade and in the sun than on several days in the months of May and June. This high temperature, accompanied by genial winds, continued both day and night to the 17th, when the first sensible diminution of warmth was observed in consequence of the wind blowing suddenly, and with some violence, from the northward. November, 1852, was remarkable for high temperature, slight thunder storms, gales of wind, heavy rain and floods. November, 1857, was also very warm. The mean temperature was nearly three and a half degrees above, and the depth of rain about equal to, the average. Thick fogs were frequent, and the temperature of the dew point was only 3° below that of the air. Very cold weather seldom prevails in the southern counties during November, but a remarkable instance occurred in the year 1851. The mean temperature of that month was 5° below the average, and it is probable such severe weather had not been experienced in November since the year 1786. As a matter for record, I will give the following list of temperatures which occurred during the month :