Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[graphic][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors]

Saxons Giuli aftera, signifying the second Giul, or Yule, or, as we should say, the second Christmas.*. Of Yule itself much will be observed, when it can be better said.

To this month there is an ode with a verse beautifully descriptive of the Roman symbol of the year:†

"Tis he! the two-fac'd Janus comes in view;
Wild hyacinths his robe adorn,
And snow-drops, rivals of the morn:
He spurns the goat aside,
But smiles upon the new
Emerging year with pride:
And now unlocks, with agate key,
The ruby gates of orient day.

CLIMATE.

Mr. Luke Howard is the author of a highly useful work, entitled "The Climate of London, deduced from Meteorological Observations, made at different places in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis: London, 1818." 2 vols. 8vo. Out of this magazine of fact it is proposed to extract, from time to time, certain results which may acquaint general readers with useful knowledge concerning the weather of our latitude, and induce the inquisitive to resort to Mr. Howard's book, as a careful guide of high authority in conducting their researches. That gentleman, it is hoped, will not deem this an improper use of his labours it is meant to be, as far as regards himself, a humble tribute to his talents and diligence. With these views, under each month will be given a state of the weather, in Mr. Howard's own words: and thus we begin.

JANUARY WEATHER.

The Sun in the middle of this month continues about 8 h. 20 m. above the hori

Sayers.

zon. The Temperature rises in the day, on an average of twenty years, to 40-28°; and falls in the night, in the open country, to 31 36°-the difference, 8.920, representing the mean effect of the sun's rays for the month, may be termed the solar variation of the temperature.

The Mean Temperature of the month, if the observations in this city be included, is 36-34°. But this mean has a range, in termed the lunar variation of the temperaten years, of about 10-25°, which may be ture. It holds equally in the decade, beginning with 1797, observed in London, and in that beginning with 1807, in the country. In the former decade, the month was coldest in 1802, and warmest in 1812, and coldest in 1814. I have likewise shown, that there was a tendency in the daily variation of temperature through this month, to proceed, in these directions. The prevalence of different respective periods of years, in opposite classes of winds, in the different periods, is the most obvious cause of these periodical variations of the mean temperature.

The Barometer in this mouth rises, on an average of ten years, to 3:40 in, and falls to 28 97 in.: the mean range is therefore 1-43 in.; but the extreme range in ten years is 2:38 in. The mean height for the month is about 29-79 inches.

The prevailing Winds are the class from west to north. The northerly predominate, by a fourth of their amount, over the southerly winds.

30-50 inches for the year) is 0.832 in., The average Evaporation (on a total of and the mean of De Luc's hydrometer 80.

The mean Rain, at the surface of the earth, is 1-959 in.; and the number of days on which snow or rain falls, in this month, averages 14, 4.

A majority of the Nights in this month have constantly the temperature at or below the foregoing point.

Long ere the lingering dawn of that blythe morn
Which ushers in the year, the roosting cock,
Flapping his wings, repeats his larum shrill;
But on that morn no busy flail obeys
His rousing call; no sounds but sounds of joy
Salute the ear-the first-foot's § entering step,
That sudden on the floor is welcome heard,
Fre blushing maids have braided up their hair;
The laugh, the hearty kiss, the good new year

✦ See vol, i. p. 1.

Howard on Climate.

The first visitant who enters a house on New-year's day is called the first-foot.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »