Part of a Letter from W. Watson, M. D. F. R. S. to John Huxham, M. D. F. R. S. at Plymouth, Giving Some Account of the Late Cold Weather. Dated London, 14 February, 1767

XLIII. Part of a Letter from W. Watson, M. D. F. R. S. to John Huxham, M. D. F. R. S. at Plymouth, giving some Account of the late Cold Weather. Dated London, 14 February, 1767. Dear Sir, Read Nov. 19, 1767. THIS waits upon you to inform you of the degree of cold we have lately experienced. After as mild a winter as has been known here for many years, the frost has been intense. Until the latter end of December, many of the tender annual exotic plants continued alive; such as the African Marygold, Nasturtium Indicum, and others of this class. I saw even the plant, usually called Balm of Gilead, at that time flourishing without shelter. Mr. Miller of Chelsea, with whom I talked upon this subject, informed me, that he had known the like but twice in his life; and that was in the years 1717 and 1722. However, at the beginning of last month, January, after some smart gusts of wind at East, it began to freeze; and continued increasing, until the fifth of that month, in the morning, my thermometer, an excellent one made by Mr. Bird, stood in the open air somewhat under 20°, in the evening it was 29°. It continued thereabouts to the ninth, when in the morning it stood at 20° again, and at night at 21°. On the tenth in the morning it stood at 17°, at night at 18°. From this time to the eighteenth it was never below 23°, but frequently frequently above the freezing point. On the eighteenth at night it stood at $19''$ and $\frac{1}{2}$. On the nineteenth at six in the morning it stood at $16''$, at eight in the morning $15'' \frac{1}{2}$, at eleven at night $17''$. On the twentieth at eight in the morning it stood at $18''$, at eleven at night $22''$. On the next day, January twenty-first, the frost broke; the thermometer at four in the afternoon standing at $36''$. In the country it has been observed much colder. On January tenth, at Cardington in Bedfordshire, Mr. Howard, Fellow of the Royal Society, by two thermometers, observed the mercury, at six in the evening, to stand at $9''$. And upon the same day the Rev. Mr. Wollaston, at East Dereham in Norfolk, found it so low as $8''$. Mr. Ellinet, at Norwich, on the nineteenth of January, found his thermometer, at eight o'clock in the morning, to stand at $7''$; at noon at $22''$; at five in the afternoon $18''$; at ten at night at $8''$. Seven degrees therefore is the lowest point, at which I have heard the thermometer has stood anywhere in England during the late frost. January tenth was the coldest day at Plymouth, where Dr. Farr, a very ingenious physician, and Mr. Mudge, who has communicated several papers to the Royal Society, each observed his thermometer to stand at $23''$ and $\frac{1}{4}$. The severe frost of 1739, of which no account appears in the Philosophical Transactions, began December twenty-ninth, when Lord Charles Cavendish's thermometer in his room stood at $25''$; the next evening $21''$. From this time his Lordship placed his instrument out of the window, and at some distance from it; when in the evening of December thirtieth, it stood at $17''$. On the morning of January fifth, it stood at $13''$. On the eighth at $15''$. The ninth at $14''$. Twenty-second at $19''$. Twenty-fifth at $17''$. On February fifth at $21''$. During all this time, the thermometer was seldom above $32''$, the freezing point. Thirteen degrees, therefore, during this frost, was the lowest observation, by Lord Charles Cavendish in Marlborough Street. I am, with all possible respect, Dear Sir, your most obliged, and obedient Servant, W. Watson. Abstract from a Meteorological Diary kept at Plymouth. This contains Observations twice a Day; the Barometer and Thermometer are made by Sisson, the Rain Machines also, and similar to that described in the Edinburgh Medical Essays. N. B. One of the Thermometers is kept in a Parlour where there is no Fire, the other without Doors in the Rain Machine, which is never affected by the Sun, but was not examined before or after the Sun set; so that the lowest State of the Thermometer in these Parts is not ascertained. **JANUARY 1767.** | Day | Bar. | Ther. within doors | Ther. without doors | Wind. | Rain | Weather | |-----|------|-------------------|--------------------|-------|------|---------| | 1 | 9 a.m.| 30 20 | 44 | N. | 2 | Clear | | | 11 p.m.| 29 84 | 45 | E. b. N. | 3 | D° a remark. gust of wind for some h. in the n. | | 2 | 9 a.m.| 29 82 | 42 | N. E. | 2 | Clear | | | 11 p.m.| 29 65 | 40 | N. E. | 2 | D° with frost this night and the last | | 3 | 9 a.m.| 29 66 | 40 | N. N. E. | 2 | Fair; a few flakes of snow fell thro' the day | | | 11 p.m.| 29 77 | 39 | N. E. | 2 | Clear | | 4 | 9 a.m.| 29 88 | 38 | E. | 2 | D° a very sharp air | | | 11 p.m.| 29 96 | 35 | E. | 2 | D° | | 5 | 9 a.m.| 29 95 | 33 | N. E. | 2 | D° | | | 11 p.m.| 29 91 | 35 | N. W. | 2 | D° | | 6 | 9 a.m.| 29 75 | 35 | N. N. W. | 2 | D° | | | 11 p.m.| 29 74 | 38 | N. W. | 2 | Cloudy; little or no frost | | 7 | 9 a.m.| 29 64 | 39 | E. b. N. | 0 | Hazy | | | 11 p.m.| 29 56 | 39 | S. W. | 1 | .230 Rain, heavy; but towards morn. severe frost | | 8 | 9 a.m.| 29 61 | 36 | E. b. N. | 2 | Frost; clear with a very sharp air | | | 11 p.m.| 29 70 | 35 | N. E. | 2 | Heavy falls of snow | | 9 | 9 a.m.| 29 70 | 35 | N. | 1 | Slight falls of snow at times | | | 11 p.m.| 29 72 | 35 | N. W. | 2 | Clear and sharp air | | 10 | 9 a.m.| 29 60 | 34 | N. W. | 2 | D° | | | 11 p.m.| 29 46 | 34 | S. W. | 2 | Cloudy; and towards morning rain | | Jan. Day | Bar. | Ther. within doors | Ther. without doors | Wind | Rain | Weather | |----------|------|-------------------|--------------------|------|------|---------| | 11 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 22 | 33 | N. | 1 | Hail; fleet; and after, most heavy fall of snow | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 20 | 33 | N. | 1 | Cloudy; snow in 3 h. cov. upw. 6 inch. deep | | 12 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 17 | 32 | N. W.| 1 | Clear wind with the sun; a very fine day | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 15 | 35 | S. W.| 2 | Cloudy. N. B. Thermometer at noon 24 | | 13 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 28 | 93 | 37 | S. S. E.| 2" | Cloudy; snow everywhere melt by the thaw | | 11 p.m. | 28 | 67 | 39 | S. E.| 3 | Rain heavy through the night; stormy | | 14 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 28 | 67 | 40 | S. | 2 | Heavy rain in the morn. showery thro' the day | | 11 p.m. | 28 | 90 | 42 | S. | 2 | Showery | | 15 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 30 | 44 | S. S. E.| 2" | Cloudy, with sun-shine at times | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 36 | 45 | S. S. E.| 2" | Cloudy | | 16 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 42 | 44 | S. S. E.| 2" | Showery | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 55 | 44 | E. | 2 | Cloudy | | 17 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 70 | 40 | N. E.| 2 | Cloudy; with a sharp cold air | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 80 | 44 | E. b. N.| 2 | D° | | 18 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 82 | 36 | N. E.| 2 | Fair; air very sharp | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 90 | 35 | N. E.| 2 | Clear and frost | | 19 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 29 | 90 | 35 | N. N. W.| 1 | .070 | Clear till 4 p.m. then showery | | 11 p.m. | 29 | 92 | 38 | N. | 0 | Clear and frost | | 20 | | | | | | | | 9 a.m. | 30 | 0 | 36 | N. | 0 | D° | | 11 p.m. | 30 | 8 | 38 | W. | 1 | Cloudy; thaw; towards morning rain | Depth Depth of Rain which has fallen at Plymouth during the Year 1766. | Month | Dec. Inc. Parts | Barom. high state | Barom. low state | |----------|-----------------|-------------------|------------------| | January | 0 | 30 | 29 | | February | 2 | 30 | 29 | | March | 1 | 30 | 28 | | April | 3 | 30 | 29 | | May | 2 | 30 | 29 | | June | 3 | 30 | 29 | | July | 3 | 30 | 29 | | August | 1 | 30 | 29 | | September| 2 | 30 | 29 | | October | 2 | 30 | 29 | | November | 4 | 30 | 28 | | December | 3 | 30 | 29 | Inches 35 .075 N. B. In the latter end of December 1766, the weather was so mild, and had been so in the preceding weeks, that ripe strawberries were gathered in my garden at the Royal Hospital. Meteorological Meteorological Register, kept at the Royal Hospital near Plymouth, continued from January 20, to March 1, 1767. | Day | Jan. | Bar. | Thr. | Wind | Rain | Weather | Remarks | |-----|------|------|------|------|------|---------|---------| | 21 | 9 a.m. | 29 97 | 39 | W. b. S. | 2 | Slight showers | | | 11 p.m. | 29 92 | 40 | W. b. S. | 1 | Cloudy | | 22 | 9 a.m. | 29 67 | 42 | W. b. S. | 2'' | Small rain constant thro' the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 74 | 44 | N. W. | 2 | Cloudy | | 23 | 9 a.m. | 29 94 | 44 | N. | 2 | Showery, but clear for the most part | | | 11 p.m. | 29 04 | 45 | N. | 2 | Cloudy weather | | 24 | 9 a.m. | 29 90 | 46 | S. W. | 2 | Small rain through the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 81 | 48 | S. W. | 2' | D° | | 25 | 9 a.m. | 29 72 | 49 | S. W. | 2'' | Cloudy, with small rain at times | | | 11 p.m. | 29 65 | 49 | S. W. | 2 | D° | | 26 | 9 a.m. | 29 62 | 49 | S. W. | 2'' | Showers in the forenoon, afterw. clear | | | 11 p.m. | 29 68 | 49 | W. b. S. | 2 | Cloudy | | 27 | 9 a.m. | 29 50 | 50 | S. | 3 | Rain heavy and constant thro' the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 58 | 50 | S. S. E. | 2'' | D° | | 28 | 9 a.m. | 29 67 | 50 | N. N. E. | 2 | Small rain through the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 50 | 49 | N. E. | 1 | Rain | | 29 | 9 a.m. | 29 77 | 46 | S. S. E. | 2 | Rain from noon till 4 p.m. | | | 11 p.m. | 29 77 | 48 | S. S. E. | 2 | Cloudy | | 30 | 9 a.m. | 29 73 | 50 | S. W. | 2 | Fair till 11 a.m. | | | 11 p.m. | 29 72 | 51 | S. W. | 2 | Rain constant since 11 a.m. | | 31 | 9 a.m. | 29 73 | 52 | S. S. W. | 2 | Rain constant, with hazy weather | | | 11 p.m. | 29 78 | 53 | S. | 2 | Small rain | Feb. | | 9 a.m. | 29 90 | 52 | S. S. E. | 1 | Fog, with small r. aft. heavy thro' day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 74 | 53 | S. S. W. | 2 | Cloudy | | 2 | 9 a.m. | 29 09 | 52 | S. E. | 1 | Hazy weather, with rain at times | | | 11 p.m. | 29 91 | 53 | S. E. | 1 | D° | | 3 | 9 a.m. | 29 83 | 51 | S. E. | 2 | Fair, with sun-shine thro' the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 72 | 52 | E. | 1 | Clear | | 4 | 9 a.m. | 29 60 | 51 | E. | 2 | Fair through the day | | | 11 p.m. | 29 56 | 49 | E. b. S. | 2 | Clear | | 5 | 9 a.m. | 29 54 | 51 | E. | 2 | D° | | | 11 p.m. | 29 59 | 50 | E. | 2' | Cloudy | | 6 | 9 a.m. | 29 60 | 48 | E. b. S. | 2 | Small rain, with hazy weather | | | 11 p.m. | 29 41 | 51 | E. | 2'' | Rain | | 7 | 9 a.m. | 29 23 | 51 | E. | 2 | Hazy, with showers | | | 11 p.m. | 29 15 | 51 | S. | 2 | Heavy showers, with squalls. | Highest state of Barom. 30 5 Lowest state of Barom. 29 4 Highest state of Therm. 53 Lowest state of Therm. 39 The quantity of rain is very considerable during this period; and yet, on looking back into the register, I find that in the month of March 1765, Inc. the total is 10.820 and taking in from the 2d of February, to the 2d of April 1765 viz. 39 days, Int. the amount is 13,900 A quantity equal, I suppose, to what usually falls in months, in most parts of England, being nearly fourteen inches. | Day | Feb. | Bar. | Th. | Wind | Rain | Weather | Remarks | |-----|------|------|-----|------|------|---------|---------| | 8 | 9 a.m. | 29 15 | S.W. | 2" | .600 | Hazy showers through the day | Cloudy | | 11 | p.m. | 29 13 | S.W. | 2 | | | | | 9 | 9 a.m. | 29 32 | E. | 1 | | Hazy weather, with rain till 1 p.m. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 37 | S.W. | 2 | | | | | 10 | 9 a.m. | 29 17 | S.W. | 2" | | Thunder showers heavy, with squalls | Showery | | 11 | p.m. | 29 48 | W.b.W. | 2 | | | | | 11 | 9 a.m. | 29 23 | S.E. | 2 | .770 | Rain constant from 11 a.m. thro' the d. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 20 | S.S.W. | 3 | | Rain, with very heavy squalls | | | 12 | 9 a.m. | 29 35 | N. | 2 | | Slight showers, with sun-shine between | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 52 | N. | 1 | | Clear and serene | | | 13 | 9 a.m. | 29 22 | S.E. | 2" | | Rain constant; hazy, w. var. to S.W. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 17 | W. | 2" | .990 | Heavy showers | | | 14 | 9 a.m. | 29 34 | S.W. | 2" | | Hail storms, with heavy showers | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 50 | S.W. | 2 | | Cloudy | | | 15 | 9 a.m. | 29 54 | S. | 2 | .670 | Rain very heavy till the afternoon | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 57 | W.b.S. | 2 | | Clear | | | 16 | 9 a.m. | 29 53 | S.S.W. | 2' | | Cloudy, with small rain at times | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 63 | S.W. | 2 | | Cloudy weather | | | 17 | 9 a.m. | 29 28 | S.W. | 2 | .450 | Rain constant till 2 p.m. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 32 | S.W. | 2 | | Showery | | | 18 | 9 a.m. | 29 38 | S.W. | 2 | | Rain till noon | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 67 | S.W. | 2" | .420 | Showery; but clear for the most part | | | 19 | 9 a.m. | 29 67 | S.W. | 2" | | Clear | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 68 | S.S.W. | 3 | | Rain in the night very heavy | | | 20 | 9 a.m. | 29 26 | S.E. | 2" | .710 | Rain constant through the day | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 45 | S.W. | 3 | | Hail-st. with most heavy squalls of w. | | | 21 | 9 a.m. | 29 32 | S.E. | 2 | .300 | Fair, with sun-shine | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 14 | S. | 2 | | Rain since 5 p.m. | | | 22 | 9 a.m. | 29 43 | W.b.N. | 2 | | Fair | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 65 | W. | 2 | | Showers in the even. at present clear | | | 23 | 9 a.m. | 29 80 | S.W. | 1 | | Clear | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 87 | W.b.N. | 2 | .716 | Cloudy; in the night, heavy rain | | | 24 | 9 a.m. | 29 86 | W. | 2' | | Rain drizzling through the forenoon | | | 11 | p.m. | 36 55 | W.b.N. | 2 | | Cloudy | | | 25 | 9 a.m. | 29 74 | S.W. | 2" | .510 | Rain constant till 3 p.m. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 70 | W. | 2 | | Showery | | | 26 | 9 a.m. | 29 51 | S.W. | 2" | | Rain drizzling constant through the day | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 44 | S.W. | 3 | | Rain; wind at S.W. a storm | | | 27 | 9 a.m. | 29 55 | N.W. | 2" | | Black and cloudy weather; but little r. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 56 | N.W. | 2" | | D° | | | 28 | 9 a.m. | 29 04 | N.N.W. | 2" | .284 | Shower in the morn. afterw. Hail-st. | | | 11 | p.m. | 29 90 | N.N.W. | 2" | | Show. at times; but fair for the most part | | Total 94 .940 or near 10 inches of rain in 39 days N.B. The machine is placed free of eddy winds, at a very considerable distance from any building, except to the North, where, however, it is sixty feet distant, and from that quarter we have little or no rain.