THE

CLIMATE OF LONDON,

DEDUCED FROM

Meteorological Observations,

MADE AT DIFFERENT PLACES

IN THE

NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE METROPOLIS.

BY LUKE HOWARD.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

Containing (besides a Preface to the second volume) the remainder of the Series of Observations, up to Midsummer 1819: an Account of the Climate, under the heads of Temperature, Barometrical Pressure, Winds, Evaporation, Moisture by the Hygrometer, Rain, Lunar periods: with a Summary of Results, in the order of the seasons; General Tables; and a copious Index.

LONDON:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY W. PHILLIPS, GEORGE YARD, LOMBARD STREET: SOLD ALSO BY J. AND A. ARCH, CORNHILL; BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY, AND W. BENT, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND J. HATCHARD, PICCADILLY.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME.

THE Map of my subject being at length delineated,

the reader has it in his power to survey it; which he may do either in detail, in the several divisions of Temperature, &c. which follow, or first as a whole, in the Summary, where it is treated in the order of the months and seasons. On turning over the work now that it is about to be completed, at press, I am sensible of some imperfections in the arrangement; which might have been made more easy for the reader, and the text less interrupted by results in figures, had the whole been reserved, till now, unprinted. The few points of theory which I have introduced here and there, might likewise have been embodied in a preliminary dissertation; the want of which will be scarcely supplied, to some readers, by the summary above mentioned. My principal apology must lie, in the want of a good model, for a design so nearly novel in character: to which may be added a strong inducement to print the several parts, as they were digested, for the sake of easy reference. In attempting to reduce to some sort of method the great mass of observations before me, I was not seldom in the case of the traveller in a South American forest, who is obliged, even where others have gone before him, to cut his way at every step through a

tangled thicket. If the vista be in any degree thus opened, those who may follow will scarcely grudge the labour of smoothing asperities, filling up chasms, and making plain the road to the science. With regard to mathematical discussions, with which it would have been an easy task to some, to have interspersed the work, I think it right to avow, that a limited education in that branch of science has left me unqualified to furnish them and possibly, to men capable of applying them to the test of sound theory, the simple data derived from observation may prove as acceptable, as a splendid series of ready-made demonstrations. One thing the reader may rely onthat much care has been exercised in the plain calculations which were continually required to bring out my results. It may be proper also to remark, that for the convenience of those who may incline to take up the subject only in parts, the Index has been made copious and minute, to a degree which on any other consideration would have been quite superfluous.

The result of my experience is, on the whole, unfavourable to the opinion of a permanent change having taken place of later time, either for the better or the worse, in the Climate of this country. Our recollection of the weather, even at the distance of a few years, being very imperfect, we are apt to suppose that the seasons are not what they formerly were; while in fact, they are only going through a series of changes, such as we may have heretofore already witnessed, and forgotten. That the shorter periods of annual variation in the mean temperature, depth of rain, and other phenomena of the year, which will be found exhibited in this volume, may be only component parts of a larger cycle is, however, very possible. Otherwise, considering that the changes

consequent on the clearing of woods, culture and drainage, with some other less obvious effects of an increased population, have probably by this time contributed their utmost to its improvement, I should venture to suppose, that our Climate is likely to remain for ages what it now is; and further that, in its great leading features, it differs little from what it was, when the present elevation of these islands above the sea was first established.

This

Having despatched the few remarks of this kind that were left for a preface, I may now claim the indulgence of the scientific reader for some thoughts of a more important nature. In the introduction to my earliest published observations (in 1807) I find the following remarks on the end and object of such enquiries. Every correct register of the weather may be considered as intended for two purposes: first, as a daily record of the phenomena regarded as passing occurrences; secondly, as a continued notation of facts interesting to the philosopher, and from which he may deduce results, for the purpose of extending our knowledge of the economy of the seasons. application of the subject it is desirable to encourage: for it cannot be doubted, that from views less limited we should draw conclusions less partial as to these changes, and instead of that scene of confusion, that domain of chance, which as commonly seen they present, we should discover a chain of causes and effects, demonstrative like the rest of creation, of the infinite wisdom and goodness of its Author." Athenæum, vol. i. p. 80. I should indeed regret the many hours of leisure, which I have since bestowed on this pursuit, could I not persuade myself, that these anticipations are likely to be in some measure fulfilled: that Meteorology will, by future observers, at least,