P E I R C E'S STATISTICS OF THE WEATHER, &c., &c. METEOROLOGICAL ACCOUNT WEATHER IK PHILADELPHIA, FROM JANUARY 1, 1790, TO JANUARY 1, 1847, INCLUDING FIFTY-SEVEN YEARS ; WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A GREAT VARIETY OF INTERESTING INFORMATION, FOR WHICH, SEE TABLE OF CONTENTS. BY CHARLES PEIRCE. PHILADELPHIA : LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, N. W. CORNER OF FOURTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS. 1847. i o i Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1847, by CHARLES PEIRCE, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. AT the friendly solicitations of a very considerable num- ber of highly respectable citizens of Philadelphia, who were aware that I had kept a regular account of the weather, for a longer period of time, than, perhaps, any other person now living ; I have concluded to give an Epitome of my nume- rous meteorological observations and records of the wea- ther, comprising fifty-seven years, commencing with Janu- ary, 1790, to January, 1847, giving a comprehensive review of each month during this long period. I did not keep a regular account myself until 1793, but a friend of mine who did, gave me his record from January 1, 1790, to 1793. At the time I commenced my record, I resided in Portsmouth, N. H., where I continued until 1313, when 1 removed to Philadelphia, and have ever since resided either in the city or county. After I removed hither, I was favoured with the loan of several records, kept by scientific gentlemen of this city, also a record kept at the Pennsyl- vania Hospital, whereby I was enabled to correct my New England Journal, according to the records kept here. I have also been favoured with access to records in the Philo- sophical, the Franklin, and the Athenaeum Libraries. From all of these valuable institutions I have taken many notes, which I have introduced into an appendix, with other in- teresting articles. I cannot omit to mention with gratitude my obligations to Dr. John Redman Coxe, who kindly loaned me a meteorological journal, that he had kept for a series of years, commencing with 1798, which I found very serviceable in aiding me to correct my record to this lati- tude. I have always been careful, when business has called me from home, to employ a competent person to keep my jour- nal of the weather posted up, that no chasm might occur. Very early in life I established correspondents in England and other parts of Europe, from whom I regularly received books and periodicals which contained accounts of the wea- ther there, and by whom I was also furnished with extracts M178519 VI PREFACE. from very ancient records of the weather, some of which I have occasionally published in the United States Gazette, Hazard's Register and the Saturday Courier, and which I shall now annex to this volume, with some additional ex- tracts. I am aware that some of these accounts of cold winters in Europe many years since, may seem incredible, but I give them as I received them, without vouching for their authenticity. They may afford some information, and can do no injury. I have added other articles, of the cor- rectness of which there can be no doubt. This volume will be, to many, a valuable book of refer- ence, in order to ascertain how the weather was in years long since gone by. In order more readily to refer to any particular month, I have placed each month in a class. For instance, the months of January follow each other from 1790 to 1847, and in like manner every succeeding month, so that a reference to any month in any year may be turn- ed to with the greatest facility. I have always been particular in recording the state of the atmosphere and weather, at, or before sunrise, also at two and ten o'clock, P. M., and my reason for so doing is, because the hour between day-dawn and sunrise is gene- rally the coldest of the twenty-four, on account of the in- fluence of the sun being longer absent from this planet. My reason for two o'clock is, because this hour is generally the warmest in the twenty-four; and for ten o'clock, P. M. is, that there are frequently great changes in the temperature of the atmosphere and weather between the hours of two and ten o'clock, P. M., which sometimes causes the mer- cury to sink from ten to twenty degrees ; therefore, by al- ways taking these three periods, any one can ascertain more accurately the medium temperature of any twenty-four hours. CHARLES PEIRCE. PHILADELPHIA, January, 1847. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Preface, - .5 Table of Contents, - January, February, March, 51 April, - - 68 May,- . 86 June, .... 108 July, - - 127 August, - September, - - 170 October, - 191 November, - December, - 237 Temperature of each year from January, 1790, to January, 1847, - 264 Appendix, - - 265 Cold and stormy winters in Europe, &c. - - 265 Cold and stormy winters in America previous to 1790, 268 Storms and hurricanes, - 272 Notes from our record, - 276 The old Congress of 1776, and Declaration of Inde- pendence adopted, - - 276 Great battle of Bunker Hill, - 277 Loss of lives during the Revolutionary war and cessa- tion of hostilities, - - 277 Definitive articles of peace signed at Paris, - 277 Grand Federal Convention promulgated the Federal Constitution, - 277 Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS. Congress first met in New York, George Washington President, and John Adams, Vice President, - 277 Order in which the States adopted the Constitution, - 278 Washington enters Philadelphia on his way to New York, - .... 278 History of Philadelphia, - - 279 Buildings and improvements in Philadelphia, 283 Railroads, &c. - ... 289 Steamboats, - 290 Loss of steamboats, - - - 292 Tablet of memory, - - 293 America first discovered, - - 294 New England first planted by the Puritans, 294 New Hampshire first settled, - - 294 Philadelphia and other cities and towns first settled, 295 William Penn's first arrival, 295 First Assembly in Pennsylvania, 295 Penn's last return from Philadelphia to England in 1701 and death in 1718, - - 296 First yearly meeting of Friends in America, 296 First newspapers printed in France, England and America, and first post offices established, - - 296 New inventions, &c. - - 298 Large Fires, . - 299 Remarkable earthquakes, - - 300 RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA. From January 1, 1790, to January, 1847. JANUARY. 1790. The average or medium temperature of this month was 44 degrees. This is the mild- est month of January on record. Fogs prevail- ed very much in the morning, but a hot sun soon dispersed them, and the mercury often ran up to 70 in the shade, at mid-day. Boys were often seen swimming in the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. There were frequent show- ers as in April, some of which were accompa- nied by thunder and lightning. The uncom- mon mildness of the weather continued until the 7th of February. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 30. It commenced foggy and mild, and continued so until the 10th; rain having fallen on three days. After the 10th, it became very cold, and some snow fell, as it did seve- ral times afterwards before the month closed. There was good sleighing for about ten days in Philadelphia and vicinity. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 32, and the weather was very vari- 2 10 JANUARY. able. There were both rain and snow storms ; also some very mild and some very cold wea- ther. There was about one week of very bois- terous weather, both on the sea and land. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 40. The weather was very mild a great part of the month. Considerable rain fell, bat very little snow. No ice made either in the Delaware or Schuylkill in the vicinity of the city. The medium temperature of the whole year was 53. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 32. There were some severely cold days, and a few very mild ones. On two morn- ings the mercury was 5 above zero. On six mornings from 12 to 20 above zero. During one storm about twelve inches of snow fell, and on another day about eight inches, after both these storms, the weather was very cold for se- veral days. It afterwards moderated, and con- siderable rain fell, which made very bad travel- ing for man and beast. The medium tempera- ture of the whole year was 50. 1795. As in the corresponding month of last year, there was much very cold, as well as some mild weather. The medium temperature of the month was 30 in this city. There were snow storms and rain storms. There were cold north-west winds, and mild south-west. There was some good sleighing, and some very bad wheeling. Some shipwrecks occurred, as there are in almost every winter month. On the 1st of this month, the cold was so intense in Eng- JANUARY. 11 land, that the Thames froze over, said a London paper, in ten minutes while the tide was turning. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 30. It commenced with fog and rain, and there was no very severe weather until the 23d, when it became intensely cold, and some snow fell, which helped to close the Delaware and Schuykill, by thickening the wa- ter. All navigation was stopped for several weeks. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and a cold stormy month it was. On two mornings the mercury before sunrise was five below zero, and at the perma- nent bridge, (crossing the Schuylkill at the head of Market street,) on the 9th, the mercury sunk to 13 below zero, and the two subsequent mornings to 10 below zero. There were two violent north-east snow storms, in which the snow blew into high banks, and so blocked up the roads, as to stop all intercourse between city and country for several days. The Dela- ware was ice-bound for several miles below the city, and wood was drawn with horses and sleds from New Jersey across the Delaware to the city and liberties. Horses were driven with sleighs on the Delaware from Trenton to the city. For four days there was -no mail re- ceived either from Baltimore or New York. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and there was much steady cold weather during the month, and particu- larly from the 14th to the close, much snow 12 JANUARY. x. . fell, which afforded two weeks of good .sleigh- ing. The mercury in this city was only once below zero, but for ten mornings, it was from five to fifteen above zero. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 30, and it was mild, foggy and frequently rainy until the 20th, when it be- came so cold as to close the Delaware ; and it continued cold through February, and until the middle of March. On several days some snow fell, which produced good sleighing. The Delaware was closed by ice from the 22d of January, until past the middle of March. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 28. After the 6th, the weather was severely cold until the month closed, and a good deal of snow fell almost all over the country, as far south as the Carolinas, Georgia and New Orleans. The winter did not break until the 20th of March. There was great scarcity of fuel, and much suffering among the poor : and there were many shipwrecks and marine disasters. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The month commenced foggy and much rain fell previous to the 12th. From the 13th to the close of the month, the weather was very changeable from cold to mild, and from snow to rain, in this vicinity ; but from papers from the interior of New York, Ver- mont, New Hampshire, Maine, &c., we learn there was much cold weather in those places, a great part of the month. On the 21st of this JANUARY. 13 month, water was first thrown into this city from the water-works. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 38. After the first week, the weather was as mild as April, and the mercury ran up to 68 on several days. During the last week, some trees and shrubbery were in blossom, but a few cold days the first week in February, destroyed all their beauty, and closed the Delaware. Considerable rain fell, but no snow. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 32. It commenced mild and foggy, and during the first eight days, considerable rain fell ; it then cleared with a strong north- west wind, and the mercury soon sunk down to fifteen above zero ; this north-west wind ceased after the third day, and the wind changed to north-east, and produced a violent snow storm, during which, several marine dis- asters occurred on the coast. After a week's sleighing, a south-east rain storm carried near- ly all the snow away. But during the last week in the month, there was another snow storm, and the month closed intensely cold. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 28, during which, there was some intensely cold weather, which, on three morn- ings, brought the mercury down to zero. Four mornings, from six to ten above zero. Eight mornings, from 15 to 20 above zero. On several mid-days, the mercury rose to the freezing point in the shade, (which is 32.) 2* 14 JANUARY. There were several snow storms during the month, and some very good sleighing. During one week, it was very mild, and considerable rain fell. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 29; it commenced and continued cold, until the 16th, when it moderated, and ten inches of snow fell, which was followed by several mild rainy days, after which, it cleared cold, and another snow storm succeeded, which produced about ten days of good sleighing, and some very cold weather, but the mercury did not sink lower than five above zero in this city and vicinity ; but the newspapers from some of the northern and eastern States, gave accounts of intensely cold weather, and the mercury to be from 15 to 20 degrees below zero, at Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester, in New York, also at Hartford, (Conn.) Worcester, (Mass.) in Vermont, and in Maine, and they said the degrees of cold were about the same in January 1804. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 30, and the weather, (with the ex- ception of a few days) was tolerably mild, until the 22d, during which period, considerable rain fell, but very little snow in this vicinity. On the 22d, the wind changed to the north, and then to north-east, and a snow storm suc- ceeded, and it cleared intensely cold, which soon closed the Schuyllull and Delaware rivers, and January took her leave of us, with both rivers firmly ice-bound. The last week in this month, was very cold all over the United States and the Canadas, JANUARY. 15 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and it produced some intensely cold, and some very mild weather. Snow storms were soon followed by rain storms, and there was scarcely a week of steady weather in this vicinity, during the month. On several mornings, the mercury was at zero, and on others, it was above the freezing point, and at mid-day it was at 40 and above. On several mornings it was mild and foggy, and on others it was as cold as Greenland. It was indeed a month of many weathers, and extreme changes. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 27, and during which there was much steady cold weather. On two mornings, between break of day and sunrise, the mercury was three below zero. Five mornings, from 8 to 12 above zero. Six mornings from 16 to 22 above. Eleven mornings from 23 to 29 above. The remaining seven were from 30 to 36. During the middle of 16 days the mercury was from 15 to 30 above zero ; during the re- mainder of the month, at mid-day it was from 32 to 42. But little rain fell during the month, but more or less snow fell on seven days ; there was much good sleighing. Much severely cold weather was experienced in the northern and eastern States, and through the British provinces. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 29, and there was a good deal of mild, thawy, wet weather, but the month did not pass without several very cold days, in this vicinity, and a week of good sleighing. While 16 JANUARY. in Philadelphia the weather was mild and rain was descending copiously, it was snowing in the northern and eastern States. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and a very mild month it was, until the 19th. On several days the mercury ran up to 64 in the shade. It commenced in the fog, and continued in the fog, until many tim- orous persons were fearful that she would never get out of it. After being thus enshrouded in fog and mist, old Sol increased his heat to such intensity, as to devour the whole of it in one day, to the great joy of millions, but to none more than to the poor mariners, who had been for more than two weeks on the coast, without being able to find a port, into which to steer their vessels with safety. After the 16th, the weather was clear, mild and pleasant until the J9th, when it became intensely cold, and the atmosphere was soon congealed into snow, which descended copiously on the 19th and 20th, after which, there was good sleighing for several weeks. The Delaware closed on the night of the 21st, and remained so until the 1st of March. The weather became simul- taneously cold from North Carolina to the ex- treme west, and through all the middle, north- ern, and eastern States, and continued cold un- til March. During a part of this month, the cold was so intense at Moscow, that the mer- cury sunk to 40 below zero and froze. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 32, during which, the weather was very variable. But there was no remarkably JANUARY. 17 cold or mild weather. There were several very foggy mornings, and damp ; and some- times rainy days, -until after the middle of the month, when there was a pretty furious snow storm, which continued part of two days during which about twelve inches of snow fell, but it blew very much into banks, therefore it did not produce good sleighing. After the snow storm, it cleared cold, but not severe. Upon the whole, the month past oif pleasantly in this vicinity. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and there was some pretty sharp weather, and there were snow storms and rain storms. From the 1st to the 13th it was mild, and considerable rain fell. But after the first two weeks it was much colder, and some snow fell occasionally on different days, which produced good sleighing, and caused the month to pass away merrily with the young folks. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 29, and during the first two weeks, the weather was mild, foggy and wet, but from the 15th it was cold, and considerable snow fell on several days, which produced sleighing, and the jingling of bells were heard night and day until the month closed. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The weather was exceedingly variable during the whole month. Sometimes intensely cold, with the mercury down to zero at sunrise, and on other mornings ranging 18 JANUARY. from 20 to 30 above. There was one week of very thawy, wet weather, after which it clear- ed very cold, and a north-east snow storm soon followed. The month closed with a cold north- wester. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and there was much severely cold weather. At sunrise on one morning the mercury was 7 below zero ; on another 5 ; and on two others, 3 below zero. On four other mornings it ranged from 6 to 10 above ; and on eleven mornings it varied from 14 to 20. On the remaining mornings at sunrise, it ranged from 24 to 34. There were several snow storms, some of which were followed by rain, which made horrible traveling. Both in this month, and the subsequent one, there was a great deal of suffering among the poor, for fuel and the common necessaries of life. The Schuylkill and Delaware were firmly ice- bound. There were several marine disas- ters, and much suffering on the -sea and land. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 32, and from the 1st to the 16th, the weather was mild, foggy and wet. On the evening of the 16th a re-action took place, and there was a deep snow, and the bridge at the falls of the Schuylkill fell. The weather afterwards cleared mild, and the remainder of the month was pleasant winter weather, neither severely cold, or so mild as not to need a good fire. On two or three days some light snow fell. JANUARY. 19 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The weather was mild during the first two weeks, and considerable rain fell, but after the 14th, it became so cold, as to close the Delaware in a few days. On the 17th it snowed, and in the evening there was a thunder storm, followed by hail and snow. After the 22d, the weather moderated, and the ice gave way. But on the 2nd of February it again closed, and so remained until the 9th of March. On the 18th and 19th, the Potomac river froze completely over at Alexandria. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 34, and there was a good deal of mild, foggy, wet weather until the 16th, when four severely cold days followed. The -residue of the month, was pleasant winter weather. The medium temperature of the whole year was 53. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 30. The month commenced tole- rably mild, but after the first week the weather was a little rainy, foggy, and very unpleasant until past the middle of the month, when more seasonable weather ensued, and the wind blew briskly from the north-west for several days. It then changed to the north-east, and just enough snow fell to produce good sleighing, and the young folks enjoyed it much, and some old folks also ! 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and quite cold enough. Jack Frost completely cheated us out of our January 20 JANUARY. thaw. It is true, that during several days, from eleven to three o'clock, it was mild and delight- fully pleasant. A good deal of snow fell, and the sleighing was very fine for two weeks. On three mornings, the mercury was from 3 to 5 below zero, and on six mornings from 6 to 12 above zero, for two weeks the mercury va- ried on each morning from 15 to 29. On three mornings only, was the mercury above the freezing point. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 25, and the coldest January month since 1780, in the United States ; an uncom- mon quantity of snow fell. On nine mornings, at sunrise, the mercury was below zero in Philadelphia and vicinity. On two of these mornings it was 1 below, and on two 9 be- low, and on five mornings from 2 to 6 below. On seven mornings it was from 4 to 10 above zero. On eight mornings from 12 to 18, and on no morning did it rise to 30. At New York city it was 7 below. On Long Island, N. Y., it was 13 below. At Albany 14; Sara- toga 15 ; Buffalo 16 ; Vermont 23 ; Canada 38 ; New Haven and Hartford 15; Boston 17 ; Sa- lem and Newburyport 20 ; Lowell 29 ; Exeter, N. H., 32; Concord, N. H. 37; Gardner, Maine, 33 ; Bangor 34 ; and Brunswick, Maine, 39, all below zero. At Brunswick the mercury became stiff in the bulb. The North river, leading from New York to Albany, was so firmly frozen, as to be past on the ice from one city to the other, 160 miles, and for sever- al days the Hudson was crossed from New JANUARY. 21 York to Jersey City on the ice, by numerous persons. But three other instances of the kind have occurred for a century, viz., in 1741, 1765, 1780. The sleighing was said to be good from Buffalo to the extreme part of the State of Maine; and from St. John's, New Brunswick, through the Can ad as to Michigan, and from Michigan, a thousand miles to the west. Every harbour was ice-bound from Alexandria, Virginia, to Eastport in the State of Maine, except the harbour of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 29. It commenced and continued mild, with foggy mornings, and some rainy days, until past the middle of the month, after which, the wind changed to the north-east and some snow fell, and the atmosphere cleared with a north-west wind, which continued until the 24th, when it again became mild, and so continued till the month closed. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The weather of this month was exceedingly variable from its commence- ment to its close. It was alternately cold, mild, foggy, rainy, snowy and pleasant. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 32. It commenced cold, but a re- action soon took place, and a mild, foggy, wet spell followed until the 14th, when a pleasant change took place, and it was clear and fine until the 24th, when it became cold, windy, 22 JANUARY. and snowy for several days ; but moderated be- fore the month closed. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The first eight days were very cold, and much ice was made in the Del- aware. But a week of mild southerly weather made every ice-bound river and rivulet give way, and a warm light rain cleared all before it, and ten days of delightful weather followed. On the 29th a boisterous north-wester set in, and the month closed very cold. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and the weather was very fickle during the entire month ; frequently changing from very mild to very cold ; and from a fierce snow, to a mild and light rain ; and vice versa. Then a few pleasant sunny days would smile upon us, which were followed by a raw, chilly north-easter, that would make one dread to leave his comfortable fire-side. And so the month began, and so it ended. The quantity of rain which fell during the month was If inches. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The weather was alternately very cold and mild. There were several rain, and also snow storms, and about one week of good sleighing in Philadelphia and vicinity. But considerable snow fell in the western part of Pennsylvania and New York. The mer- cury was eight above zero one morning, and from 13 to 23 above on nine mornings. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. JANUARY. 23 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 39. This was indeed a remarkably mild month. The Delaware as free from ice as it is in June ; and not a flake of snow was seen in Philadelphia during the month. A great deal of southerly wet weather prevailed until the 16th, when it cleared delightfully pleasant with a westerly wind, and so contin- ued until the month closed. Early shrubbery and trees were beginning to put forth their buds. On several days the mercury ran up to 70 in the shade. Two inches of rain fell du- ring the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 29; the month commenced very cold, which closed the Delaware during the first week, but opened again about the middle of the month, when there was about ten days of mild wet weather, with an occasional plea- sant day. The Delaware closed again during the last week, and continued closed until the middle of February. Five and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 28. During the first three weeks, there was much mild, foggy and wet weather, after which, a re-action took place, and the re- mainder of the month was severely cold, with some boisterous snow squalls. The Delaware closed on the 25th. One and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and there was much intensely 24 JANUARY. .cold weather, (after the first week, which was very rainy,) and some boisterous snow storms. The earth was covered with snow, and the Delaware closed with thick ice from and after the first week in January until the last week in February, and there was much suffering among the poor. The streets in the city and roads in the country were banked up by the snow to a great height, and the newspapers from Virginia, also from the far west, and all through the middle, northern and eastern States, said, that more snow had fallen during this month, than in any corresponding month since 1780. A Salem, (Massachusetts,) paper, said the snow was drifted into banks in that town, and through that region of country, to the depth of fifteen feet. Other papers from the north and east published similar accounts. The storm commenced in this city on Friday evening with great violence, and on Saturday morning the market wagons were completely buried in snow on the north side of Market street. Mails were delayed on the road for two or three days. Many vessels were wreck- ed on the coast, and many poor mariners perished. Five inches of rain fell during the month. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 25. There was much intensely cold weather during this month. Several boisterous and severe snow storms. Schuylkill and Delaware closed with thick ice. The winter was long and severe all over the United States, and very similar to the corresponding month of last year. Mails delayed, by the JANUARY. 25 roads being filled with snow. On three morn- ings the mercury was from four to six below zero, and on six mornings from eight to thir- teen above zeto. The remainder of the month was seasonable winter weather. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 30. The first two weeks were mild, foggy, cloudy and damp, and after an easterly rain storm, it cleared cooler on the 15th. But there was no severely cold weather during the month. From the 24th to the 31st, a few inches of snow fell, but not sufficient for sleighing in this vicinity. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 29. The weather was very change- able ; foggy, cloudy, misty, rainy, clear, mild and cold. Very little snow fell in Philadelphia and vicinity ; but towards the last of the month considerable snow fell in the northern and eastern States, and cold weather followed. Two and a half inches of rain fell during the month in this city. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The month commenced and continued intensely cold until past the middle. The mercury before sunrise in this city, on sever- al mornings, was from 2 to 4 degrees below zero, and on eight mornings from 6 to 15 above zero. After the snow storm of the 9th, the Delaware closed, but opened again by a rain storm pre- vious to the 20th. The residue of the month 3* 26 JANUARY. was tolerably mild winter weather. A New York paper of the 7th, stated that the mercury on that morning at sunrise, was 18 below zero, and at Albany on the previous morning 23 be- low; at Boston 15 below; at Newark 13 below. There was about two weeks sleighing during the month in Philadelphia and vicinity. Two and three-quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and a very snowy month it was. There were no less than seven snow storms, and several intensely cold days. It was general- ly supposed, that during the storm of the 9th and 10th, that nearly three feet fell in this city, and in the country it was stated to be much deeper. It was calculated that during the month, from eight to ten feet fell in many places. In the interior of Pennsylvania and New York, arid in various parts of New England, the newspapers stated the quantity which fell during the month to be from ten to fourteen feet. But two south east rain storms carried off a great deal of it. At one time the sleighing was said to be good from the Ohio river to the bay of Funda (Eastport,) and from Ohio, through Michigan, and down the Canadas to St. John, (New Brunswick,) and Halifax, (Nova Scotia). Seven and a half inches of rain fell during the month in this city, but while it rained here, it snowed in various other places. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 28. Every day in the month was clear, fine winter weather, but six. On the 20th and 21st, about four inches of snow fell, JANUARY. 27 after which it cleared very cold, and there was tolerably good sleighing until the 30th, when a dense fog and rain carried it all off. The lowest the mercury sunk in this city during the month was 5 above zero. 2 \ inches of rain fell during the month. On the evening of the 25th, there was a splendid atmospheric phe- nomenon, which lasted for nearly four hours, and for sublimity, beauty and magnificence was unsurpassed by any thing we ever before witnessed. [The night was mild, pleasant and clear ; its commencement was about a quarter past seven, in the north-west, and resembled a blaze of fire, which rapidly extended like a rainbow to the eastern horizon, and in a few moments spread its crimson hue over the whole hemisphere, unsurpassed in brilliancy and mag- nificence. It was awfully grand, and, perhaps, far exceeded in splendour, any thing before witnessed in this region. The rays of light va- ried from a deep red to crimson, tinged with yel- low, and at one time overspread the whole hea- vens. About eleven o'clock it began to wane, and by twelve had entirely disappeared. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 38, and from the 1st to the 30th the Delaware was as free from ice, (opposite and be- low the city) as in November. During the night of the 29th it became very cold, and at sunrise on the 30th the mercury was 16 above zero, and on the 31st only 12 above. Not a flake of snow, (that we heard of) fell in this city during the month. Eighteen days were clear, mild, and pleasant; and on eight days 28 JANUARY. some rain fell. The other five were cloudy or overcast. The sap rose in small trees and shrubbery, so as to produce buds, and some shrubbery in gardens of a south exposure put forth leaves. On several days, from 12 to 3 o'clock, the mercury ranged from 60 to 64. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1839. The medium temperature of this month, was 30. It commenced very cold, with the mercury only seven above ^ero; but it soon moderated, and continued mild until the 15th, when eleven days of very cold weather followed. On four of these days, some snow fell; (about six inches in all.) On the 24th, the mercury sunk to only four above zero. On the 25th and 26th if rained in torrents, and (the ground being hard frozen) it produced one of the most destructive freshets experienced for many years. It caused a rise in the Schuyl- kill river of fifteen feet ; and swept a\vay seve- ral bridges, mills, &c. In New York city and county, the wind blew a perfect hurricane, un- roofed several houses and other buildings, and did great damage to the shipping at the wharves and at anchor. Five and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1840. The medium temperature of this month, was 24. The medium being one de- gree lower than any month of January we have on our record. The month was without a thaw. Some snow fell on eight days. About eight inches in all. On eight mornings the mercury was from two to ten above zero. On JANUARY. 29 eight more, from ten to twenty above. On one morning, only, it was above the freezing point. The Schuylkill closed on the 1st, and the De- laware would have followed suit, but for the ice-boats. But Jack Frost obtained a victory over them on the night of the 16th, and placed his broad white seal upon the Delaware, which remained unbroken for several days. At Bal- timore and Washington the mercury sunk down to zero. We afterwards saw it stated in the newspapers, that at Gettysburg, and seve- ral other towns in the interior of Pennsylva- nia, the mercury was thirteen below zero. At Albany, Saratoga, Buffalo, N. Y., 30 below zero. At Hartford and New Haven, Conn. 15 below. At Springfield, Mass., 30 below. At Boston 14, and Portsmouth, N. H., 14 be- low. At Portland, Augusta, Eastport, &c., in Maine, from 20 to 30 below. In Montreal and Quebec, from 37 to 39 below, and the roads well blocked up with snow. There were great disasters amongst the shipping on the coast and in harbours, &c. Two inches of rain fell in this city during the month. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 33, and the quantity of rain that fell was seven inches and three quarters. The month commenced with a violent north-east snow and hail storm. It cleared cold on the 2d, and on the 3d, at sun-rise, the mercury was only three above zero; and on the 4th, four above. There was good sleighing until the evening of the 5th, The 6th and 7th were foggy and rainy, and the mercury, on the 30 JANUARY. morning of the 6th was 36, and on the 7th, 55 ; and at mid-day, 48 and 58. The ice in the Delaware, (which closed on the night of the 2d,) now gave way, and the weather was tolerably mild until the 18th, when a re-action took place, and the mercury sunk to 14, and on the 19th to nine only above zero. From the 21st, it was mild until the month closed. Some snow fell on four days, and rain on thirteen. Some days very little fell. But the powerful rain of the 6th and 7th produced a destructive freshet. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 34f , and 1J inches of rain fell. A very little snow fell on four days, not exceed- ing in the whole two inches. With the ex- ception of eight days, the weather was mild and pleasant during the whole month in this vicinity. On the 25th there was a conjunction of the two largest planets of our solar system, (Jupiter and Saturn) which occurs only once in twenty years. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 38, and If inches of rain fell, and about the same quantity of snow, in the vi- cinity of Philadelphia. It was a remarkably mild and pleasant winter month. But the newspapers informed us that, while Philadel- phia was so highly favoured, various other places were experiencing very different wea- ther. On the 26th Pottsville was visited by a tremendous hurricane, which swept away al- most every thing before it. On the 7th and 8th of the month, Danville, Pa., was visited by a very destructive storm of wind and rain, which JANUARY. 31 swept away bridges, and did a great amount of other damage. On the 7th, there was a great fall of snow in Tennessee, and it was intensely cold, and the papers stated that the cold extended to Louisiana and Mississippi. It was also in- tensely cold at the north, and down through the Canadas to the bay of Funda. The Mon- treal and Quebec papers said the weather was so cold, that the mercury sunk 36 degrees be- low zero. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 27. Two and a half inches of rain fell, and some snow on four days, making about five inches in the whole, and two days sleigh- ing in the vicinity of the city. One morning the mercury was 6 above zero. On three, 7 above; and on eight mornings, from 13 to 20 above. On the remaining mornings, it was from 21 to 35. On the mornings of the 26th and 27th it was 14 below zero at Albany, and intensely cold all through the northern and eastern states. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 38. Three and a half inches of rain, and about two inches of snow fell during the month. A milder and pleasanter winter month could scarcely be desired than was ex- perienced in this latitude. But very few in- stances occurred in which the mercury sunk below the freezing point in the city ; and it frequently ranged from 50 to 60, from eleven to three o'clock. The Delaware below Ken- sington, and the Schuylkill below Fairmount, 32 JANUARY. were as free from ice as in mid-summer. The medium temperature of the whole year was 54. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 33 f. Four and a half inches of rain fell, and about three inches of snow. From the 1st to the 17th, the weather was very mild, when a re-action took place, and the cold in- creased so fast as to sink the mercury 26 de- grees from three o'clock P. M. of the 17th, to sunrise the next morning, and the weather con- tinued cold until the 30th, with the exception of two days. On the 30th the wind southed, and the mercury ran up to 52, and on the 31st to 58 at mid-day. On the 20th and 21st, from three to four inches of snow fell, which made a few days of good sleighing, as it cleared and continued cold for several days. The snow- storm of the 20th and 2] st was very severe, and extended far to the south, the west, the north, and the east; and in several directions so blocked up the roads as to delay the arrival of the mails at the usual hours. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MOXTH OF FEBRUARY. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 32. The weather was mild until the 7th, when a reaction took place, and cold weather set in, in earnest, and \vith the excep- tion of a few days it continued pretty cold un- til the 17th of March, when the winter broke. During the month of February, there were both rain and snow storms, and some very mild and pleasant days. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and the weather was very va- riable, being sometimes very cold, and then very mild. Considerable snow fell, which made about two weeks good sleighing. Some rain fell on six days. There was some very pleasant winter weather during the month. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 30, and there was a few intensely cold days. The remainder of the month was comparatively mild, particularly in this lati- tude. There was considerable rain, but very little snow in Philadelphia. There were, how- ever, a few snow squalls. 4 34 FEBRUARY. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 32. Very little ice made in the Delaware, notwithstanding there were seven or eight days of very cold weather ; there being no snow to thicken the water was probably the reason. Three-fourths of the month was very mild, and considerable rain fell. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 31. During the month there was some very sharp weather, which closed the Delaware for nearly two weeks; but a foggy, rainy spell soon cleared both rivers, and made free ingress and egress for vessels. It snowed and rained on several days. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 30, and snow fell on several days, which made good sleighing in the vicinity of Philadelphia for a short time ; but some rainy days soon spoiled the sleighing, to the grief of many young folks. The Delaware was ob- structed by ice for ten days. Several vessels arriving in the course of the month, reported having experienced some very rough and stormy weather on the coast. 1796. The medium temperature of this month w r as 28, and the month was very cold until past the 20th, the mercury several morn- ings was below zero, and considerable snow fell. The last week in the month was mild and plea- sant, which, with some rain, carried the snow off very rapidly. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and a very cold stormy month it was. Both rivers fast. Fuel scarce and FEBRUARY. 35 dear; and great suffering among the poor. Mercury on three mornings from 5 to 13 below zero; and several mornings from 6 to 15 above zero. The nights generally cold the remainder of the month, but the days tolerably mild and pleasant. But little rain fell. The cold was tremendous from the far west to extreme east. Mariners on the coast suffered extremely ; and there were several vessels wrecked. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 26. There was not so much in- tensely cold w r eather during this month, as in the corresponding month of last year, but it was more uniformly cold. The cold was how- ever interspersed with some mild and cheering days. The Delaware was closed about half the month, and there was much floating ice the other half. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 29. The weather was very varia- ble. Sometimes intensely cold, and then a mild spell. There were both snow and rain storms sleighing and wheeling. The Dela- ware was either entirely closed, or greatly ob- structed by ice from the last week in Novem- ber until the first week in March ; indeed, the winter did not break until past the middle of March. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 27, and there was much intensely cold weather during the month, not only in Pennsylvania, but all over the country ; and the winter did not break until the second week 36 FEBRUARY. in March. A great deal of snow fell as far south as the Carolinas and Georgia, also, through all the western, northern and eastern states. The Delaware was closed until March. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The first week was intensely cold, and closed the Delaware for a short time. After the 10th, there was much mild wet wea- ther, with an occasional cold day or two. Very little snow fell. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The first week was very cold, and destroyed all the beautiful flowers which put forth during the previous month, (Janu- ary.) The Delaware closed on the 3d, but gave way again after a few days. The re- mainder of the month was mild, and considera- ble rain fell. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and a very variable month it was. There were several snow storms, and the weather afterwards cleared cold. After the 20th it was mild, and rain fell on several days. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 28. It was tolerably mild and pleasant until the 9th, afterwards it was very cold and stormy, and a good deal of snow fell. It continued cold until the 10th of March. ] 805. The medium temperature of this month was 29, and there was much cold and stormy weather. Considerable snow fell, which produced good sleighing. The rain storm in the last week in the month caused a great FEBRUARY. 37 freshet. It afterwards cleared very mild and pleasant. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 28. It was steady cold during a great part of this month. The ice gave way in the Delaware about the 20th ; after w r hich it was tolerably mild to the close of the month. Very little snow fell. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The weather was very varia- ble. There were both snow and rain storms. Very cold and very mild weather. Cloudy, overcast and clear ; windy and calm. Mercury almost down to zero on three mornings ; and at c5 / mid-day, it was several times up to 50. There was much cold weather at the west, the north, and the east, and considerable snow fell in these directions. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 32. Very little snow T , but con- siderable rain fell. With the exception of one week, the weather was mild and pleasant a great part of the month. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and an intensely cold month it was. The Delaware closed with thick ice the first week in February, for several miles below the city. The mercury was several degrees below zero on three mornings in succession. Some accounts said seven, and others eleven below zero. On the 27th of the month, the merchants employed a great number of men to cut the ice from Pine street wharf to Glouces- 4* 38 FEBRUARY. ter Point, in order to facilitate the sailing of several vessels that had been loaded for some time. The severe weather continued until nearly the close of March. There was a great deal of snow on the ground. Fuel was scarce and very high, and there was great suffering among the poor, 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 27. The Delaware closed on the 29th of January, and remained so until the first of March. Much snow fell daring the month of February, and the roads in the country were blocked up in every direction. Several vessels were wrecked on the coast, and many poor sailors lost their lives. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and there was much intensely cold weather, and great suffering on sea and land. After the first week the weather mode- rated a little, and a good deal of snow fell. There were three snow storms during the month, and very little rain fell. Fuel so scarce in Philadelphia, that oak wood sold for fourteen dollars per cord. 1812. The medium tempe/rature of this month was 27. There were several snow storms during this month, but after the fall of snow the atmosphere became mild, and rain generally followed. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 27. The weather was very varia- ble; sometimes very cold, and then mild. There were were several snow storms, but in FEBRUARY. 39 no instance did much fall at any one time in this vicinity. Some rain also fell on several days. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 28 ; and the weather very similar to that of the corresponding month of last year; perhaps rather more snow fell. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 24. Almost the whole of the month was intensely cold. On several morn- ings the mercury was from 8 to 12 below zero. There was considerable snow on the earth when the month commenced, and there were several snow storms during the month. The snow was very deep from Ohio, all through the mid- dle, northern, and eastern states to the extreme part of Maine. The Delaware closed in De- cember and opened again. It closed again in January and remained closed all through Feb- ruary, and until the second week in March. Fuel was exceedingly scarce and dear. Oak wood sold from twelve to fourteen dollars a cord, and hickory for sixteen dollars. Anthracite coal had not been generally introduced. Fuel being so scarce and high, there was much ex- treme suffering among the poor, which was a general complaint almost all over the country. At one time wood sold in New York for twenty dollars a cord. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 28. There were a few intensely cold days; but excepting these, the weather was tolerably mild during the month. There 40 FEBRUARY. was snow, hail and rain, but neither fell in great abundance. During some cold days, the Delaware froze over, bat soon opened again op- posite and below the city. The ice above the city, at Burlington, Bristol, Trenton, &c did not clear out until the first of March. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and in all conscience it was cold enough. The mercury was several times from 1 to 8 below zero from the 1st to the 16th. On the 2d, the weather became intensely cold, and the Delaware soon closed for a mile below the city, and continued closed until the first week in March. Considerable snow fell, but very little rain. On the 22d, an ox was roasted on the Delaware opposite Philadelphia. The cold extended from east to west, and from north to south. At Washington city the mercury was 2 below zero on the 15th. At Salem, Mass., 20 below. Boston harbour was closed with thick ice as far down as Fort Independence. From the 20th to the 22d snow fell to the depth of 3 feet on a level in Boston and in many parts of New England. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 26. It came with a violent north- wester, which made the window-sashes rattle and shutters slam at a tremendous rate ; and the cold increased with such rapidity as soon sunk the mercury below zero. The intense cold con- tinued only a few days, but sufficiently long to close the Delaware some distance below the city. With the exception of a few mild days, the weather was cold until the month closed, FEBRUARY. 41 and until the 10th of March. But little snow fell in this vicinity during the month. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 28. It commenced and continued cold until the llth, when the winter broke, and it was very mild the remainder of the month. Very little rain fell. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 30. It was cold until the 12th, when the winter broke, and the remainder of the month (with the exception of a few days) was mild and pleasant. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 32, and with the exception of a few intensely cold days, the weather was mild dur- ing a great part of the month. January, the month before this, was the coldest for many years. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 27, and there was much severely cold weather, but not a great deal of snow fell in the vicinity of Philadelphia, although it abounded in the northern and eastern states. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 36. It was severely cold the first week, but the remainder of the month was mild. It both snowed and rained on several days, and several days were remarkably mild and plea- sant. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 34, and, with the exception of seven days, the weather was mild and generally plea- 42 FEBRUARY. sant. It rained, however, on several days, but very little snow fell in this vicinity. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 32, and the weather w^as very va- riable. The first week was pretty cold, and some snow fell. It was alternately cloudy, rainy and clear until the 20th, when the winter appeared to break, and it was mild and plea- sant to the close of the month. Three and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 26. It was intensely cold until the 10th. On three mornings the mercury was from 2 to 4 below zero. After some snow fell, the weather moderated and became very mild. On the 15th, some rain fell, after which the winter broke, and it was uncommonly warm, foggy, drizzly, and occasionally clear and plea- sant until the month closed. Two and a quar- ter inches of rain fell during the month. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 27, and the weather was one de- gree colder than January. Snow fell several times during the month, but not to much depth. A little rain also fell on two or three days. The weather was very variable, from cold to mild, and from overcast to fair and pleasant. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 40, and the weather was more like April than a winter month. Apricot and peach trees were in bloom on the 20th; but some FEBRUARY. 43 frosty nights in March destroyed most of the promised fruit. Two inches and three quarters of rain fell during the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 27, and the weather was cold and occasionally stormy until the 16th, when it be- came mild, foggy, rainy, &c. and the ice in the Delaware gave way, and vessels had free in- gress and egress. The weather continued very mild until the 24th, when a re-action took place, and the remainder of the month was very cold. Three and three quarter inches of rain fell dur- ing this month. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 25, it commenced and continued cold to the end of the month, with the exception of a few days. There were several snow storms, but not more than six inches fell at one time. Two inches of rain fell during this month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 26, and there was much intensely cold weather, and several deep snows, not only in Pennsylvania, but all through the western, northern, middle, and eastern states, and also in Maryland, and the western parts of Virginia ; some snow also fell in the Carolinas, and in Alabama. The earth was covered with snow 7 from the first week in January to the first week in March, from Maryland to Maine. In many places the snow was blown into banks from ten to twenty feet high. There was great suffering among the poor, not only for fuel, but for the 44 FEBRUARY. common necessaries of life. There were seve- ral melancholy shipwrecks during the winter. Two inches of rain fell during this month. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 27 ; it was indeed another cold month, and there were several severe snow storms, extending to the east, west, north and south. And the cold weather continued until the middle of March. Two and a half inches of rain fell during this month. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 30, and the first ten days were pretty cold and some snow fell, after which the weather became very mild and the winter broke. One and a quarter inches of rain fell during this month. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 29, and the weather was very va- riable, from cold to mild, from wet to dry, from .cloudy to clear, and from foggy to rainy, with some flirts of snow. So it began and so it ended. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell during this month. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 28, and it was very cold a great part of the month. There were two pretty se- vere snow storms and some snow fell on other days. Fuel was scarce and high, and there was much suffering among the poor. Two inches of rain fell during this month. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 24 ; it commenced intensely cold. FEBRUARY. 45 From the 2d to the 6th, on each morning at sunrise, the mercury ranged from 1 to 4 de- grees below zero; and there were twelve in- tensely cold days during the month, and good sleighing the whole month, to the south as far as Virginia; to the west as far as the Rocky Mountains ; to the north, through Upper Can- ada, and to the east, as far as the Bay of Funda. There were eight snow storms^ and it was esti- mated at the time, if the snow had fallen on a level and remained to the end of the last snow, it would have been from 8 to 10 feet in depth. But the newspapers stated it to have blown into banks in some places, from 20 to 25 feet high. It was the coldest month of February since 1815. Three inches of rain fell during this month in this city. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 33, and it was very mild during a great part of the month. There were only six very cold days. A very little snow fell on three days, making about 2 inches in all ; and some rain fell on five days. Although the wea- ther was so mild, the Delaware was a good deal obstructed by ice. Three and a half inches of rain fell during this month. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 24, and during which there was a great deal of severely cold weather, and had it not been for the ice boat that was just intro- duced, the Delaware would have been closed the whole month. On eighteen mornings the mercury was from 6 to 20 above zero, and the average temperature of the month at sunrise 5 46 FEBRUARY. was only 18f , which is 13 below the freezing point. Some snow fell on four days, and there was sleighing from the 16th to the 22d. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell during this month, 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 33. About two inches of snow fell, which melted almost as soon as it reached the earth, and two and a half inches of rain fell. The weather was mild during the whole month, excepting on four days, viz. on the 6th, it was 11 ; on the 7th, it was 12; on the 10th, it was 14; and on the llth, it was 20 above zero. It was so mild at mid-day, that the mercury on twelve days ranged from 40 to 48, and on five days from 50 to 54. Notwithstanding this month was so mild in Pennsylvania, the papers inform us, that the weather in the state of Maine was severely cold and boisterous, and the mer- cury sunk 20 degrees below zero, and 22 below in the Canadas. And the last accounts from Europe say, that the weather there, during the last and forepart of the present month, was aw- fully tempestuous, both on the sea and land, and many distressing shipwrecks had occurred. Among them, were three of the New York Liver- pool packets, viz. the Pennsylvania, the Oxford, and the St. Andrew ; and that a great amount of damage was done in the towns of Liverpool, Manchester, &c. We .mention these items to show how very different the weather is in dif- ferent parts of our planet, at the same time. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 39. From the 1st to the 6th it was FEBRUARY. 47 intensely cold ; the mercury ranged from zero to 15 above, which closed the Delaware below Pine street, and would have kept it closed but for the vigilance of the ice boat. On the 6th, the wind southed , the weather suddenly became very mild, the rain poured down, and his icy ma- jesty soon took his flight from this vicinity, and six inches of snow which fell on the 1st, soon ran into the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. The remainder of the month was mild and ac- companied by occasional fog and rain. The quantity which fell during the month was three inches. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 29. About six inches of snow, and one and a half of rain fell during the month. It was very cold from the 10th to the 17th, the mercury ranging from 3 to 13 above zero ; the other parts of the month were moderate, or comfortable winter weather. A little snow fell in this city on six days, but not enough for sleighing at any one time. The Delaware was very much obstructed by ice for two weeks. While the weather in this country during the winter has been comparatively mild, it was on the other side of the Atlantic uncommonly bois- terous and severe. A London paper of Febru- ary 3d, says : " The severity of the w r eather is great, and numerous shipwrecks and other dreadful disasters have occurred. It was so excessively cold in Sweden in December, that it was computed that three thousand persons perished. 3842. The medium temperature of this 48 FEBRUARY. month was 38. About two inches of snow, and four and a half inches of rain fell during the month. With the exception of nine days, the weather was mild. On the 9th, the mercury sunk to 14, and on the 17th to 13 above zero, at sunrise. On the 4th the mercury ran up to 66 in the shade, and there was a heavy thunder shower in the evening. On the 13th, 16th, 19th and 26th, there were easterly rain storms, mixed with a little snow. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 27. A little snow fell on live days, making about seven inches in all. There was sleighing for three days. Two and a half inches of rain fell during the month. On the mornings of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, the mercury ranged from 10 to 12 above zero, and considerable ice made in the Dela- ware, but the ice boat kept the river open, so that vessels had free ingress and egress. The weather was not severely cold in this vicinity, but in the papers, we saw it stated that in New York, and in the northern and eastern States, it was intensely cold and boisterous, and that a great deal of snow had fallen. The weather was also very cold at the south. Snow fell in South Carolina to the depth of two inches ; and there was both snow and ice in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 32. It commenced and continued pretty cold for two weeks. The remainder of the month was tolerably mild. Some snow fell on the 1st, 8th, and 17th; in the whole FEBRUARY. 49 about eight inches. There were but a very few days of sleighing during the whole month. On one day the mercury was 10, on another 8, and on another 15 above zero, which were the only very cold days. Only one and a half inches of rain fell during the month. In a work I have been looking over, I find an account of a great snow storm which took place in the New England States, from the 19th to the 22d of February 1717, (one hundred and thirty years ago,) during which, snow fell to the depth of six feet on a level, from Connecticut to Maine. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 35 ; and four and three quarter inch- es of rain, and five inches of snow fell. There was sleighing from the 8th to the 12th. From the 1st to the 10th, it was severely cold, the mercury ranging from 10 to 20 above zero. From the llth to the close of the month, the weather was mild particularly in the vicinity of Philadelphia. On the 4th and 5th there was a very severe snow storm in all the north- ern and eastern states, and through the Canadas ; after which it cleared intensely cold. During the storm many disasters occurred to the shipping on the coast. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 28. The quantity of rain which fell was three and a quarter inches. On eight days, more or less snow fell, making in all twenty inches in this vicinity. During the snow storm on the night of the 14th and the morning of the 15th, about six inches fell, and 5* 50 FEBRUARY. the wind blew a perfect gale from the north-east, which prostrated many trees in the city and vicinity, and did much injury to vessels in port and on the coast. During this storrn, ten vessels were wrecked, on and near Squam Beach, and sixty persons perished. Among the vessels that were lost, was the packet ship John Minturn, from New Orleans, bound to New York. There were fifty persons on board thirty-eight of whom perished, including the captain and his wife and their two children. Several other vessels were wrecked on the American coast, and many lives lost. The last three days in this month were very cold. On the morning of the 27th, the mercury was only 8 above zero. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 38, and the weather was cold and boisterous until the 17th, and some snow fell on three days. From the 17th to the close of the month it was mild, and considerable rain fell. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 40. The first eight days were re- markably mild and pleasant, after which the wind changed to north-east, and some snow, and then rain fell. On the 10th the wind changed to south-west and it again became mild and pleasant for several days, and vegetation came forth rapidly. But the last week was cold arid frosty, and some rain fell. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 37, and the first two weeks were windy, cold, cloudy and clear alternately, and some snow and rain fell. From the 15th to the 22d, it was remarkably mild and pleasant. The last week was very variable ; sometimes rainy, and then cloudy, and then clear. 52 MARC H. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 34, and there was much of cold, stormy, snowy, frosty weather, and several rainy days. There was scarcely a mild plea- sant day until after the 20th, when it became spring-like and cheering, and some signs of vegetation soon appeared, to the joy of thou- sands. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and, notwithstanding there was much cold, stormy weather, yet, there was also much that was mild and pleasant. Pre- vious to the middle of the month, there were several storms, intermingled with snow and rain. But a brisk north-wester, which com- menced on the 16th, and continued for several days, cleared the atmosphere and introduced some fine and pleasant weather, which con- tinued until the month closed. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 34. It commenced cold and windy ; and snow storms and rain storms followed, so that there was very little pleasant weather dur- ing the first three weeks ; at the end of three weeks the wind southed, and it rained mode- rately for two days, after which it cleared warm, and vegetation came forward rapidly. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 38. It commenced cold and windy, but after a snow squall on the 6th, the wind changed to south-east, and some rain fell ; the weather then became mild and pleasant for a week ; a cold frosty spell then followed ; and MARCH. 53 the remainder of the month was alternately rainy and fair. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and there was much cold and boisterous weather, with some snow and rain, until the 12th, after which it was tolerably mild and pleasant until the 19th, when a week of easterly wet, chilly weather ensued. The wind then changed to south-west, and the remainder of the month was delightfully pleasant. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 34, and it was more like a winter than a spring month. Considerable snow fell, and there was much cold boisterous weather, and very frosty nights. Very little rain fell during the month. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 35, and the weather continued win- tery until the middle of the month, after which the spring opened beautifully. As late as the 14th of the month there was a pretty deep snow, but a copious rain soon carried it all off, to the great joy of many. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and the weather was very cold until the 8th, then followed ten days of delight- ful spring weather, but the remainder of the month was very variable, sometimes rainy, then clear and windy, with cold frosty nights. So the month ended. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 36. It opened mild and pleasant 54 MARCH. and diffused pleasant sensations into all who experienced the delightful change and improve- ment in the atmosphere. But, alas, we live in a changeable world. The second week brought clouds, wind and snow squalls, which dispersed all the pleasant sensations of the previous week ; but, fortunately, this gloomy weather was of short duration, as the wind took a whirl to the south, and after a fine warm rain, it cleared mild, and the remainder of the month was every thing which could reasonably be desired. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 40, and it was, (with a few excep- tions) a month of delightful weather, in which vegetation came forward with astonishing ra- pidity, and the trees were dressed in their beau- tiful attire of green and white, and perfumed the air with their odours. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 40; it commenced and continued pleasant and mild until the 12th, when the wind took an easterly direction and set the elements all in commotion, so that on the 14th, there was one of the most severe snow storms which had occurred during the last three months. Snow fell to the depth of fifteen inches in Philadel- phia and vicinity ; and in Baltimore and Wash- ington twenty inches. The papers also stated, that the snow fell to so great a depth at the west, north and east, as to prevent the arrival of the mail from one, two and three days after it was due, at many places. After it ceased snowing, the wind backed in to north-west, and blew almost to a hurricane for several hours; it M ARCH. 55 however lulled as the sun went down, -but rose with it on the ensuing morning, but not on so high a key ; on the third day, it changed to south- east, and the clouds soon gathered their forces, and poured down rain with such violence, as very soon to put all the snow to night. From the 23d to the end of the month, the weather was almost like summer, and April was ushered in by millions of smiling faces, because it shone so smilingly on them. 1804. The medium temperature of this nKftith was 38. The weather was very variable a great part of the month. There were some very mild, and some boisterous cold days. There were a few snow storms, and some rain storms, and there were some cloudy, and some beautiful clear days, and when the month closed, some trees were in bloom and grass looked green. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 40. As usual there was a variety of weather, but the mild and pleasant prevailed a great part of the month. Considerable rain fell, and a few flakes of snow were seen occa- sionally, and there were some frosty nights. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 38. It commenced cold and windy, and there were some snow squalls. But on the 10th, the wind changed to south-west, and then to south-east, and some rain fell ; it then clear- ed with wind west, and there was about ten days of very mild and pleasant weather, which caused the trees and shrubbery to put forth 56 MARC II. beautifully ; but during the last week they ex- perienced a check by a cold north-west wind by day, and severe frost by night. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 39 ; and there was much mild and pleasant weather during the month, interspersed by some snow, and considerable rain. Vegeta- tion, however, made great progress, and the trees and shrubbery were very forward. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 37, and it commenced and contin- ued cold and windy, (with some snow and rain) for nearly two weeks, after which the weather became mild and spring-like, and so continued the remainder of the month. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 35, and a cold wintry month it was. Snow storms were frequent, but rain generally followed, and then cold north-west winds, and^ sleety and sloppy walking made up the variety, with an occasionally mild and pleasant day. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 37 ; and there was considerable snow on the earth when it commenced, and a storm in the first week added a few inches more, which made good sleighing. The weather continued cold until past the middle of the month, when a south-east and southerly rain storm made all the snow run into the great ocean ; the wind changed to south-west, and the spring now com- menced beautifully, and every thing did spring to admiration, as though it meant to redeem much lost time. By the 1st of April, many MARCH. 57 early fruit trees were in blossom. During a violent gale on the 3d, the great Elm tree at Kensington, under which William Penn made his treaty with the Indians in 1682, was blown down. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 40. With the exception of a few squally, cold days, and two rain storms, the weather was rnild and very pleasant, and vege- tation came forward with rapidity. It was said, that winter grain scarcely ever looked more pro- mising, A tremendous gale on the coast of Ire- land destroyed a great number of vessels, and many lives were lost on the 3lst of this month. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 37, and there was considerable cold, windy weather, but much more that was mild, spring-like and very pleasant. There were some storms, with a mixture of snow and rain, but, after they had ceased, old Sol shone out warm and made the sap rise in the trees and put forth buds, blossoms and leaves, and at the close of the month early vegetation looked pro- mising. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 39, and it produced a great variety of weather, viz. a little snow, more rain, some wind, some calm, some cold, some warm, and a good deal of mild, pleasant weather. On the whole, the month passed off very agreeably in this vicinity, and we hope it did elsewhere. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 38, and it opened very mild and 58 MARC H. pleasant, but the second week brought a cold north-west wind, which continued for several days, and then changed to south-west, when the weather became mild and very pleasant for seven or eight days, when it rained copiously, arid cleared beautifully, and it continued mild and pleasant until the month closed. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 38. Cold weather continued until the middle of the month, when the winter broke and it became uncommonly mild and pleasant, and vegetation came forward with surprising rapidity. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and there was a great deal of cold, windy, boisterous, and stormy weather, until past the middle of the month ; but, not- withstanding the month came in like a lion, and continued very ferocious for more than two weeks, yet it went out as mild and gentle as a lamb. A great fresh in the Ohio and Kentucky rivers caused a rise of more than fifty feet, and produced great destruction of property. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 40. It commenced cold, but after the first week, the winter broke, and the wea- ther became rnild and pleasant, and (with the exception of a few days) continued so until the month closed. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 37. The month commenced and continued cold and windy until the 10th, when the winter broke. Some rain fell, with a little MARCH. 59 flirt of snow ; after which, mild and pleasant weather, (with occasional showers) continued through the remainder of the month. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 39. It commenced mild and plea- sant, (and with the exception of one short east- erly rain storm, a few occasional showers ; arid one snow squall, accompanied by a fierce north- wester) the month pased off pleasant. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 38. It was mild and pleasant until the 8th, when a re-action took place, and a whole week of cold, cloudy, windy, squally, and frosty weather followed. The wind then changed to west and south-west, and the wea- ther became mild and pleasant, and (with the exception of a few days) it continued so until the month closed. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 37 ; and the weather was very va- riable through the whole month. It snowed, it hailed, and it rained more than once or twice ; and a north-west wind whistled on a high key. At last, the weather became as mild and gentle as a lamb, and the month closed very lamb-like. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 36. It commenced cold, but plea- sant previous to the 20th, there was all sorts of weather, very similar to the corresponding month of last year. The last ten days were mild, but wet, and every thing around pro- claimed that it was spring. 60 MARCH. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 40, and although snow frequently feathered the atmosphere, none remained long upon the earth, as rain generally followed, and a pleasant week ensued. So the month com- menced, and so it ended. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 39. It was mild and very plea- sant during the first week. The subsequent ten days were windy, cold and squally. The wind then changed to south-east, and rain fell copiously, after which it cleared, and the wea- ther during the remainder of the month was mild and really spring-like, and vegetation pro- gressed finely. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 40, and with the exception of a bracing north-wester for several days, it was a month of spring-like weather, and vegetation came forward rapidly. Four and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 38. It commenced warm, but dur- ing the second week a cold north-west wind prevailed, to the discomfiture of many. It did not, however, retain its strength long, as it lulled into a calm, and a delightful mild spell followed, until the wind changed to south-east, and some rain fell. A warm south wind and pleasant weather closed the month. Nine and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 36, and a cold boisterous month it MARC H. 61 was. Snow fell several times, after which it cleared with a brisk north-west wind. The 21st, however, brought mild spring-like wea- ther, which continued until the month closed. One and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 42. After the first week, which was very frosty, and destroyed most of the ap- ricot and peach buds and blossoms, which put forth so plentifully the last week in February, the weather became uncommonly warm, and (with the exception of a few days of rain, &,c.,) it continued so the remainder of the month. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 38, and there were all kinds of wea- ther for nearly three weeks. Some cold, some mild, and some rain, with a little snow. Then a brisk north-wester cleared all off, and the at- mosphere became clear, mild and pleasant, and thus closed the month. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 40. The weather was very un- steady. It was cold and windy, mild and rainy, and sometimes uncommonly warm. During one week there were some very frosty nights. But on the whole, a majority of the weather was very mild and pleasant. Four and a quar- ter inches of rain fell during the month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 39. The weather was quite cold 6* 62 MARCH. until the 6th, after which there were two weeks of very mild and pleasant weather, when some rain fell, and it cleared with a strong north- west wind, which spent itself in three days. The remainder of the month was remarkably mild and pleasant. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 34. The mercury sunk to zero on the 4th, in this city. In Baltimore and Wash- ington, it was 4 below. At the north and east, it was several degrees colder. The winter did not break until the 15th. There was scarcely a night in the whole month that it did not freeze hard. There was an abundance of snow, rain and sleet. There was floating ice in the Delaware during the whole month. Indeed, it was the coldest month of March we have on our journal, except three, which were the same. The few mild days during the month were greeted with uncommon pleasure. Two inches of rain fell during the month. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 39. It commenced spring-like, both mild and pleasant. But the 10th very abruptly introduced a cold boisterous week, that was welcomed by no one ; but its depar- ture on the 18th was cheered by thousands. The weather now became mild and pleasant, and so continued until the month closed, with the interruption of a few very seasonable show- ers. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1834. The medium temperature of this MARCH. 63 month was 38. The weather was variable during the whole month. There were some squally and some calm days ; also some cold and some warm, some wet and some dry, some cloudy and some clear days. In this way it seemed to take turn-about, until the month came to itsjims. Two inches of rain fell dur- ing the month. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 39. It commenced mild, and so continued for a week, when the mildness of the lamb was disturbed by the roar of the lion, (as Mr. North-wester is called.) For two or three days he made sad work with window-shutters, store-signs, and a variety of other articles. After he took his departure, there was some cheering spring-like weather during the residue of the month. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 35. With the exception of a few days, the weather continued cold to the 28th of the month. It commenced with snow, hail, rain and sleet, and there were in the course of the month, enough snowy, rainy, sleety days, to satisfy any reasonable person. The wind, for the first time during the month, changed to south, and then to the south-west on the 29th, and produced a warm atmosphere, and the nights of the 29th, 30th, and 31st, were the only ones that did not produce ice. On ten mornings the mercury ranged from 15 to 25. One and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 64 MARCH. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 39. It commenced with a snow- storm, which continued moderately for three days, and had not a great part of the snow melted, there would probably have been twelve inches. On the afternoon of the 3d, the wind changed from north-east to north-west, and it cleared intensely cold, so that on the morning of the 4th, the mercury was only 5 degrees above zero, and it did not rise above 22 the whole day. On the morning of the 5th, it was 20, and on the 6th it was 22, which is 10 be- low the freezing point. On the 7th the wea- ther moderated, and it was alternately cold and mild until the 18th, when the wind southed, and the weather became spring-like, and vege- tation came forward rapidly. Some rain fell on the 13th, 18th, 23d, and 27th. Three and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 41. It was clear and cold until the 5th the mercury ranging from 18 to 21. On the 5th and 8th, it snowed and rained. After this, the weather became mild, and so continued during the remainder of the month, with the exception of a few days. Three and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1839. The medium temperature of this month w r as 41. Notwithstanding the weather during the first week, partook very much of the nature of the lion, yet the subsequent part of the month assumed very much the disposition MARCH. 65 of the lamb. The quantity of rain which fell during the month was one and a half inches. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 44. It commenced uncommonly warm ; the mercury ranged at sunrise, (during the first seven days,) from 38 to 53; and dur- ing mid-day, from 56 to 70. But on the night of the 7th, the wind changed from south to north-west, and the cold increased so rapidly during the night, that on the morning of the 8th, it had sunk to 22, which is 10 below the freezing point. It continued cold until the 1 5th, when a little snow and rain fell after which it became mild, and (with the exception of a few days,) it continued so until the month closed. About three inches of snow fell during the month, and two and a half inches of rain. There were many frosty nights. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 40, and six inches of rain fell, and about ten inches of snow. On the 17th the sleighs ran in multitudes, both in and out of the city. But the rain of the 18th spoiled all the sleighing for this season. The mercury varied during the month, from 20 to 70. There was much boisterous weather, which did a great deal of damage to vessels on the coast and in harbours. On the 3d of the month, between ten and eleven o'clock in the evening, there were two rings round the moon, which reflect- ed all the beautiful colours of the rainbow. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 47. A little snow fell on three 66 MARCH. days ; not one inch in all and a little rain on thirteen days, the whole measuring but three inches. The weather was very variable ; the mercury ranging from 24 to 73. There was thunder and lightning on the 15th and 18th. On the 23d, while the apricot and peach trees were in blossom in the country, a cool rain de- scended, which covered the trees with icicles. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was only 30, and snow fell on five days, measuring in the whole about fifteen inches, and four inches of rain fell. The snow-storm of the 16th was the most severe and violent that had occurred for many long years, in the month of March; during this storm, twelve inches of snow fell in Philadelphia, and blew into banks from four to five feet high in many of the streets. It was the coldest March month we have, or can find on record. On fourteen mornings the mercury ranged from 13 to 20 above zero ; and there were only three morn- ings during the month that the mercury was above the freezing point. From the 1st of Feb- ruary to the 8th of April, the weather was steady cold. The New York papers said, that during the violent storm of the 16th, snow fell in that city to the depth of two feet, and blew into banks six feet high ; that the country roads were so banked up, that no mails arrived from the north and east for two or three days. We received similar accounts from Baltimore and Washington. Also, from the west, the north, and the east as far as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Vessels on the coast MARCH. 67 and in harbours, received great damage, and there were several shipwrecks, and great loss of property and lives. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 42, and four and a half inches of rain fell ; but not a half inch of snow fell in Philadelphia. From the 1st to the 18th, the weather was tolerably mild, with the exception of three days. On the 18th, there was a smart snow-squall, after which it was quite cool for a week. The remainder of the month was very pleasant. The New England papers said, the past winter was the most severe for many years. In Vermont and a part of Maine, there was five months' sleighing, from the 20th Octo- ber to 20th March. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 44; two and a half inches of rain fell, and a very little snow, which soon melted. The weather for one week was very variable, producing the temperature of the four seasons; with the above exception, the weather was mild during the month. On four days the mercury ranged from 70 to 74; and on four days from 26 to 32. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 42. Four and a half inches of rain, and about two inches of snow fell in this vi- cinity. On the mornings of the 1st and 2d, the mercury was only 15 above zero, and on the 3d and 4th, 20 above, which is 12 below the freezing point. With the exception of nine, it froze every night during the month in this city. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOB, THE MONTH OP APRIL. 11 When verdure clothes the fertile vale, And blossoms deck the spray, And fragrance breathes in every gale, How sweet the vernal day !" 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 50. Although there was much mild and pleasant weather, yet there were several frosty nights. As usual in this month, showers were frequent, and an easterly wind, with a drizzling rain and chilly atmosphere, prevailed for two or three days; but vegeta- tion progressed very well, and the trees were full of blossoms. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 54. The month commenced warm and pleasant, but chilly wet weather followed until the llth, when the wind changed from east to west, and most delightful warm grow- ing weather ensued, and continued through the remainder of the month, with occasional show- ers, so that vegetation came forward very ra- pidly. 1792. The medium temperature of this APRIL. 69 month was 52. It was rather cold until the 7th and the nights frosty, after which an agreeable change took place, and it was re- markably mild and pleasant the remainder of the month, with the exception of three days of easterly wet weather. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 46, and there was much cold, wet weather, and very frosty nights, until after the middle of the month. Vegetation was back- ward. The last two weeks, however, were warm, and vegetation took a rapid start, and at the close, the month looked promising. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 44. It commenced mild, but from the 5th to the 12th it was cold and stormy with both rain and snow, and every thing had a discouraging appearance. There was ice on several mornings. On the 13th, the wind southed, and warm, growing weather ensued, which brought forward the fruit trees and vegetation, with an almost unprecedented ra- pidity. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 50. It commenced with a warm rain, which cleared up with a warm south- west wind, and perhaps, two weeks of more rapidly growing weather was scarcely ever witnessed. During the third week, there was an easterly rain storm, which cleared with a cool north-west wind, which produced some slight frosts. The last week was very pleasant and mild, and vegetation being very forward, the agriculturalist was highly encouraged. 70 APRIL. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 48. With the exception of a few frosty nights, the weather was mild, which, with frequent showers, and mid-day hot sun- shine, vegetation thrived well, and the trees were white with blossoms, which caused all nature to appear botanical, and to perfume the air with odorous scents. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 46. It commenced mild, and so continued until the 8th, when a week of easter- ly wet chilly weather ensued, after which the wind southed, and varied from south to west for two weeks, during which the weather was warm and delightfully pleasant until the month closed. The wheat looked very promising. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 44. It commenced cold, wet and frosty ; and there was ice several mornings during the first week, after which it gradually became milder, and on the 12th, the wind changed to south-west, and the weather became very warm, which soon put a new face upon vegetation, and by the first of May, it was al- most as forward as usual, except the grass, which was very backward. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 45, and it was cool until the 7th, with the wind at north-east, and some rain fell on several days in succession. After which the wind southed, and the weather became warm, and very pleasant, and vegetation came forward very rapidly. Frequent warm showers APRIL. 71 made the grass spring finely. There was no frost after the first week in this month. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 47. It commenced with cold frosty nights, but after some snow squalls, and cloudy, wet weather, the wind southed, and the weather became very warm and pleasant, and vegetation came forward very rapidly, and by the first of May, every thing looked very promising. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 54. It commenced gay, mild, and very pleasant and so continued with oc- casional refreshing showers, and some very warm days, through the whole month. Vege- tation was forward, and looked well. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 52. Many trees were in bloom and vegetation appeared forward, and very promising. On a few mornings there was light frost, but not sufficient to do injury. Frequent showers, and a warm sun, made the grass to grow for cattle, and herbs for man. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 54, and it commenced warm and pleasant, but there was a re-action in the sec- ond week, which produced some frosty nights, that killed the bean vines, &c. It however soon became warm again, and so continued the remainder of the month. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 50, and the weather was quite 72 APRIL. variable. Sometimes a chilly north-east wind prevailed for several days. The wind then changed to the west, and it was pleasant and warm for about a week, when some rain fell ; after which warm April weather continued un- til the month closed. Vegetation not so forward as usual. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 52. Frequent showers and warm sunshine brought vegetation forward very rap- idly. Every thing looked thriving, healthy and promising, until the third week, when the wind changed from west to north, and some frosty nights folio wed, which did much injury to delicate plants, but most of them recovered, so soon as the wind changed to south-west, and the atmosphere became warm. J806. The medium temperature of this month was 47, and there were some very frosty nights and squally days, with wind at north- west. But after the squalls passed over, the warm sun soon melted the snow, and the plants looked more beautiful than ever. On the llth, the wind changed to south-west, and spring weather set in in earnest, and made every thing else spring. There was really a joyful time with the farmers and gardeners, and they all went to work as if they were inspired with new life and animation, and their labours were abundantly blessed, as the season proved a very fruitful one. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 49. The month opened beautifully, APRIL. 73 with many trees in full bloom, and early vege- tation in considerable forwardness. About the middle of the month, there was some cool easterly weather for nearly a week, which retard- ed the progress of vegetation a little, but a warm westerly wind succeeding the easterly, soon gave a spur to vegetation again, and the month closed with some wheat-fields in head, and early potatoes and corn several inches high. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 50, and the weather was very like that of the corresponding month of last year, excepting that showers were more frequent, and there were two severe thunder-gusts. Ve- getation was very forward, and looked very en- couraging. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 46. It commenced with a cold, dry north-wester, that continued for several days, after which the wind backed out to the east, and for several days it was very chilly, damp and drizzly. About the middle of the month, the wind worked round to the south, and after a real pour down rain, it cleared with a warm westerly wind, and the remainder of the month was exceedingly pleasant. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 48. It commenced warm and plea- sant, with every thing botanical about it. Many trees were white or variegated with blossoms and leaves, and vegetation had made some progress. The month abounded with showers, 7* 74 APRIL. and there were some very frosty nights, which destroyed many apricot and peach bulbs ; but those on the under boughs or limbs were not much injured. Vegetation generally was very forward and promising. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 50; and the wind and weather were more 'fluctuating than usual. The month commenced warm and pleasant, but the wind changing to the east, produced a chilly atmos- phere, and then a rain storm, which was fol- lowed by a cool north-wester. On the 12th the wind veered to the west, and then to south- west, and the remainder of the month was warm growing weather ; the earth being kept moist by frequent showers. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 48, and the first week was cold, with the wind varying from north to east, and pro- ducing some frosty nights. The wind, how- ever, changed to south on the 8th, and warm sunshine and fertilizing showers gave such a wonderful impetus to vegetation, that its pro- gress was very perceptible from day to day. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 49 ; it commenced with a mild westerly wind, which southed on the 4th, and after some copious showers, vegetation came forward with great rapidity. It was remarked that winter grain never looked more promising than it did at the close of the month. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 48. The first week was uncom- APRIL. 75 monly mild and pleasant. Vegetation was for- ward, and the trees were white with blossoms. An easterly wind, and damp, drizzly atmos- phere prevailed during the second week. But the third week brought fine summer-like wea- ther, with southerly winds. Vegetation im- proved every day during the remainder of the month. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 52, and it opened with a warm south-west wind and vegetation looking well, and progressed finely under the influence of a warm sun and frequent showers, until the 21st. when the wind changed to the north-east, and several raw, chilly, cloudy, wet days ensued. But the 26th brought fine warm, growing weather again. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 47. It commenced mild, but did not maintain its credit; as Jack Frost came along mounted upon a cold, boisterous north- wester, and made every thing tremble and shiver before him. The blustering snow squalls which followed, would have been more suitable for January than April. After the wind lulled, ice formed on several nights, half an inch thick, which destroyed all the buds, and almost every green thing. x 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 53, and the weather was not only mild and spring-like, but a part of it was like mid-summer. Vegetation came forward with 76 APRIL. surprising rapidity, and there was every pros- pect of abundance of fruit. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 54, and the weather was very simi- lar to that of the corresponding month of last year, excepting that showers were more fre- quent, and there was considerable thunder and lightning for so early in the season. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 53. It commenced mild, with a clear atmosphere, and westerly wind. On the 5th the wind southed, and it rained moderately nearly all day. From the 6th to the 13th it was very warm, and vegetation advanced rapidly. On the 14th, an easterly breeze sprung up, and the weather was cool and damp for several days. But the wind veered round to the south and south-west, and it became warm and very plea- sant, and the winter grain began to head. Early corn, beans, peas, and garden truck, all looked very promising, but more rain was needed. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 54. It commenced with rain, but it soon cleared with a westerly wind, both mild and pleasant. Westerly, south-westerly and southerly winds prevailed a great part of the month. Vegetation was very forward, and looked very promising. There was plenty of rain, and some thunder and lightning. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 53. The month opened delightfully pleasant and so continued until the 13th, with APRIL. 77 the occasional interruption of some copious showers. After this, the wind changed to north and then to north-east, and the atmos- phere became quite chilly, and on two or three mornings there were slight frosts. But this cool weather did not continue long. On the 19th the wind took a westerly direction, and the weather became quite warm, and so con- tinued until the month closed. Vegetation looked very promising. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 52. It commenced cool and a little squally. The snow flew in every direction, as if it was afraid to light any where. Old Sol soon made his appearance, and devoured the whole of it at one meal. The wind now changed to south-west, and the weather as- sumed a milder aspect, but it was very variable during the whole month. There were several frosty nights. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 51, arid during which there was much cold, frosty weather, and some snow squalls. After the first two weeks it became quite mild arid pleasant, and vegetation revived and came forward with great promise. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 54. It commenced warm and plea- sant, and so continued until the 9th, afterwards there was a cool, damp, overcast atmosphere and easterly wind for several days, after which, the wind southed, and it rained powerfully for an hour or two. It then cleared quite warm, 78 APRIL. and so continued during the remainder of the month. Vegetation very forward. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 55, and it was a delightful month for showers and warm sunshine. Vegetation unusually forward, and it never looked more promising. Only one inch of rain fell during the month. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 56, and the weather was very like that of the corresponding month of the last year, except that thunder and lightning were more frequent. Vegetation was nearly two weeks in advance of some seasons. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 50, which was the coldest for eleven years. The heavy frosts destroyed the early garden truck ; also, most of the peach and apricot bulbs. Vegetation very backward, and farmers and gardeners quite desponding. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 56, and it was indeed a most de- lightful month of fine growing weather. Hot days, warm nights, and frequent showers, caused all nature to spring and flourish. Four inches of rain fell during the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 55, and it opened very pleasantly, and with the aid of fine showers and warm sun- shine, vegetation progressed rapidly. It how- APRIL. 79 ever met with a little check at the commence- ment of the third week, by a chilly easterly wind for a few days, which it soon recovered from, and the remainder of the month was warm and pleasant. Five inches of rain fell during the month. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 54. It commenced cool, cloudy and chilly, with the wind east ; but on the 4th, the wind changed to the west, and afterwards to south-west and south. After a rainy day, it cleared warm, and the weather was very fine, with alternate showers until the month closed. Vegetation was very promising. Two inches of rain fell during the month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 53. Its commencement was mild and pleasant, but after the 10th, both the wind and the weather were very changeable. There were easterly and westerly winds, and fair wea- ther and foul, warm and cool, but, after all, vegetation looked very flourishing. Five inches of rain fell during the month. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 55. The first week was cool, damp, easterly weather. The wind afterwards changed to south-west, and two weeks of mild and ra- pidly growing weather followed. The wind then changed to south-east, and after one rainy day, the wind wested, and the residue of the month was warm and pleasant, with occasional showers. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 80 APRIL. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 54. The wind and weather were very changeable. But much warm, showery, growing weather prevailed. The wind boxed the compass several times; it scarcely blew three days at a time from one direction. Only half an inch of rain fell during the month. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 53. More easterly damp, chilly weather prevailed this month than is usual for April, but she was not without her warm south- erly winds occasionally, and her fertilizing showers and hot sunshines made vegetation spring again. During the fore-part of the month there were some frosty nights. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 56 ; and there was, during this month, much warm, splendid spring weather, which made every thing flourish. Showers were frequent, and thunder and lightning oc- casionally severe. Four and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 50. Although there were few very frosty nights and cool days during the month, yet there was also an uncommon number of very warm summer-like days. On five days, from twelve to three o'clock, the mercury ranged from 70 to 76 ; but, on six days, it only varied from 40 to 48 during mid-day, and dur- ing the night from 28 to 38. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. APRIL. 81 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 50; it commenced and continued cool until the llth, during which, there were several very frosty nights. The subsequent week was very mild. But from the 18th to the close of the month, the weather was va- riable ; the mercury ranging from 38 to 52 at sunrise, and during mid-day, from 48 to 80. A little snow fell on the 4th and 23d, and some rain fell on four days. Vegetation was very backward, and fruit buds much injured by frost. Three inches of rain fell during the month. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 47. This was the coldest month of April since 1816. There was ice on five morn- ings and frost on eleven other mornings. On the 14th and 24th a little snow fell ; and on eleven days some rain fell. On eight days only, the mercury rose above 60 at mid-day. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. From long experience, I have observed that there is about the same amount of cold, one year with another. If we do not have it in the winter months, we are sure to have the deficit made up in the course of the subsequent sea sons. The greatest difference I have ever known in the medium temperature of any year was 5 degrees ; in 1816 it was 49, and in 1825 it was 54. All the other years from 1790 to the present, were from 50 to 53. 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 54, and it commenced with a cold 8 82 APRIL. northerly wind, that continued until the 4th, and produced frosty nights. On the P. M. of the 4th the wind southed, and the weather was quite like summer until the 13th; the wind then changed to north-east, and it continued cool until the 23d, when the wind changed to south-west, and the remainder of the month was very warm ; the mercury ranging at mid- day from 68 to 82. Only one and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 55|. During this month there was the temperature of winter, spring and summer. There was thin ice on four mornings, and frost on six. On nine days the mercury ranged from twelve to three o'clock from 50 to 60 ; on ten days from 63 to 70 ; on five days from 70 to 76 ; on four days from 82 to 84. Seven inches of rain fell, which is the greatest quantity in any month of April for twenty years. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 47, and the quantity of rain which fell was six and a half inches. On the 10th there was a north-east snow storm, during which about six inches of snow fell. On the 12th there was another, when from ten to twelve inches fell in this city, and much more fell in the country. Had not much of it melted, there would have been good sleighing. This snow storm extended south to Virginia ; west to Ohio ; north to Vermont ; and east through all the New England states, to the extreme part of Maine. A few inches more fell on the 13th and 14th, after which some rain followed. APRIL. 83 Some rain fell on ten days during the month. On the 2d, at mid-day, the mercury rose to 70 ; on no other day did it rise above 65 ; on eight days at sunrise, it was from 30 to 37 ; on the 12th, it did not rise, even at mid-day, above 34 ; on five days it ranged from 40 to 47 at mid-day. During the remainder of the month, the mercury varied on different days, from 50 to 60, excepting on three days it rose to 65, and on one day to 70. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 53, and the quantity of rain which fell was five and a quarter inches. It was in- deed a weeping month, for it wept sorely on sixteen days. But not a particle of snow fell in this vicinity during the month ; and there was not a particle of ice except on the morning of the first day. On seven days the mercury ranged from 70 to 80 during mid-day ; on ten days from 60 to 69 ; the remainder of the month it ranged from 44 to 59 at mid-day. At the close of the month, vegetation was in a good state of forwardness. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 50, and the quantity of rain that fell was four and three quarter inches. A little snow fell on the 4th, 5th and 9th, about two inches in all. The month commenced with a wintry atmosphere; the mercury at 31, and ice a quarter of an inch thick, and it continued cold and frosty until the 12th, when the wind changed from north to south-west, and the wea- ther became mild and spring-like, and so con- tinued during the remainder of the month On 84 APRIL. four days during the last week, the mercury ranged from 70 to 75 at mid-day. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 56, and one and a half inches of rain fell, but not a flake of snow in this vicinity. The month commenced cold, with mercury 26 at sunrise, and ice half an inch thick, and it continued cold until the 4th, when the mercury ran up to 74 at mid -day ; on the llth, to 76 ; on the 14th, to 78 ; on the 15th, to 84 ; and on eleven other days, it was from 70 to 76 ; on five days, from 60 to 68; the remainder of the month ranged from 42 to 58 at mid-day. At the close of the month vegetation looked very flourishing. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 53, and two and a half inches of rain fell. On the 25th there was a heavy thunder shower with very vivid lightning. On the 6th and 8th, there were snow squalls. On four mornings there was frost, and one morn- ing ice. The month commenced and contin- ued mild until the 8th. From the 8th to the 13th, it was quite cool and frosty. On the 13th the wind changed from north-w r est to south, and the remainder of the month (with the exception of four days) was not only mild, but summer- like, and vegetation came forward with great rapidity. Only a few sprinkles of rain fell from the 23d of March to the 19th of April in this vicinity, when it rained moderately for ten hours. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 52J, and two inches and one-tenth APRIL. 85 of rain fell. There was a snow squall on the 13th, and on nine mornings there was slight frost. On six days the mercury w r as from 70 to 76, one day 78, and one day 80, during mid- day. A great part of the month the weather was mild and pleasant in Philadelphia and vi- cinity, particularly during mid-day. On the 24th, the mercury during mid-day, in the shade, was 80 in Boston, New York, and in Philadelphia ; in Baltimore it was 82 ; and in the city of Washington, 84. 8* RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, ran THE MOXTH OF MAY. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 56. It commenced and continued pleasant until the 7th, when the wind changed to north-east, and several days of wet, chilly weather ensued ; after which it changed to the south and south-west, and then followed ten days of warm, growing weather. Another change then took place, and the weather was very variable during the remainder of the month sometimes rainy and sometimes clear or cloudy. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 58, and much rain fell during the first two weeks. It then cleared cool with the wind at the north-west. On the 18th the wind changed to west and then to south-west, and the remainder of the month was mild and plea- sant. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 58, and it was a month of many changes and vicissitudes. After a long east- erly rain storm, some mild, pleasant weather MAY. 87 followed for two weeks ; then there was another north-east storm, during which some marine disasters occurred, and several lives were lost. The month closed very pleasant. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 62, and there were some very plea- sant May mornings from the 1st to the 10th; after which the wind took an easterly direction and produced some overcast, damp, chilly, rainy weather, which continued until the 15th, when the wind changed to west and afterwards to south-west, and a warm pleasant season en- sued, and continued until the month closed. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 61. It commenced cool, overcast, and drizzly, with wind east until the 7th, when it changed to south, and the weather continued warm and very pleasant until the 20th, when the wind changed to north-east and it rained for part of two days, and it continued overcast and cool until the 27th ; the wind then changed to west and afterwards to south, and the month ended very warm, with a thunder shower. Vege- tation was forward and very promising, and there was a prospect of abundance of fruit. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and it was a remarkably warm, growing season, and just rain enough to pro- duce excellent crops of hay, and fill the market with abundance of vegetables and fruit. There was only one week of cool, easterly weather during the whole month. There were three thunder gusts, with vivid lightning. 88 M A Y. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and the first week was very pleasant, but it was followed by ten days of very cool, drizzly, rainy weather, with wind varying from north to south-east, after which the wind changed to north-west, and blew fresh and cool for two days ; it then changed to west and south, and a spell of warm summer-like weather ensued until the month closed. There was a light frost on three mornings. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and the weather was mild and pleasant until the 5th, when a cold north-east rain storm followed. On the 8th the wind southed, and the weather was very warm and pleasant until the 17th, when the wind changed to east, and a great deal of rain fell during three days, and the atmosphere remained overcast, damp, and chilly until the 23d, when the wind changed to west, and the weather was warm and pleasant during the remainder of the month. Vegetation looked very promising. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and much rain fell during the months to the injury of corn and grain, but fa- vourable for grass. About the middle of the month there were several cool nights, but no frost in this vicinity to injure any thing. On the whole, vegetation looked very fair. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and it commenced warm and pleasant ; vegetation was forward and very pro- mising, and met with no check during the M A Y. 89 month. Fruit trees, also, promised a great abundance. Showers were very frequent, but there was only one easterly storm during the month. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and the warmest May month we have yet on our record. There were but five days of cool, easterly winds, and two days north-west wind, all the rest were west and south-west and south. Vegetation very for- ward. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 66. It commenced with a warm south-west wind, and so continued until the 8th, when the wind changed to east, and it was rainy, drizzly, and cloudy until the llth, when ten days of warm splendid weather followed. On the 20th the wind changed to north-east, and overcast, rainy weather continued until the 25th, when the wind southed, and the residue of the month was quite warm enough, and vegetation never looked better. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and it was proverbially called " The hot May /" Westerly, south-westerly, and southerly winds prevailed a great part of the month. There was only one easterly rainy day, but there were three thunder showers. Not more than half as much rain fell as usually falls in May. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 60. There was a great contrast be- tween this and the corresponding month of last 90 M A Y. year. This month commenced with a cold, north-east wind, and a thick, overcast, drizzly atmosphere. On the 5th it rained and blew violently, after which it continued cloudy and cool until the 14th, when it rained all day. On the 15th the wind changed to north-west, and on the 17th to west, and afterwards to south-west, and the weather was clear and fine until the 25th, when the wind changed to east, and it rained and drizzled for three days ; the wind then southed, and a spell of warm weather fol- lowed. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 62. It commenced mild and very pleasant with the wind at south-west, but on the 5th it changed to north-east, and a chilly, overcast, damp, drizzly atmosphere ensued, and on the 7th there was a real old-fashioned rain storm. The weather continued overcast and chilly until the 13th, when the wind changed to west, and nine days of fine summer-like weather followed, which was very reviving to all kinds of vegetation, as well as to man and beast. On the 23d, the wind changed to south- east, and rain fell powerfully for nearly two days, but on the 27th, the wind changed to the west, and it again became warm and pleasant, and so continued until the month closed. Ve- getation looked pretty well, and there was a prospect of abundance of fruit and hay. On the llth, there was a great storm at Newfound- land, and eighty vessels were lost. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 63. It commenced with a delight- ful south-west breeze, and a warm, growing at- MAY. . 91 mosphere, which continued until the 7th, when a violent thunder-gust occurred, accompanied by vivid lightning ; at the close of which the wind changed to north-west, and the atmos- phere became so cold as to produce frost, which injured bean and other tender vines. On the llth the wind changed to west, and the wea- ther became very mild. On the 15th the wind southed, and a rainy day followed. It then cleared with a westerly wind, and it was fine growing weather the remainder of the month. Vegetation and fruit looked very promising when the month closed. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 67, and it commenced under very auspicious circumstances, as all nature looked in a very healthful and flourishing condition. On the 7th the wind changed to south-east, and a very seasonable and plentiful rain fell. It soon cleared warm again, with wind at south- west, and no month of May ever produced finer weather. It was warm, with seasonable show- ers, and vegetation grew apace. Wheat, rye, indian corn, oats, and every thing looked well. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 65. The weather during this month was very variable. A great deal of wet, east- erly weather prevailed ; also, some cool north- west winds, and towards the close, ten days of very warm, growing weather. But, notwith- standing the unpropitious weather for nearly three weeks, vegetation looked tolerably well. 1808. The medium temperature of this 92 MAY. month was 68, and a month of fine weather it was, with but very few exceptions, the wind being at north-east, and east only five days dur- ing the whole month, which produced a copious and very seasonable rain ; the other rain that fell was in showers. The wind varied from west to south a great part of the month, and the mercury ranged from 1 to 85 during mid-day nearly half the month. Vegetation at the close of the month was forward and very promising. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and the first week was mild and pleasant, but the second proved quite the reverse, for a cold north-east wind commenced, with a chilly, overcast, drizzly atmosphere, and then a real pour-down rain ended the second week. After which the wind changed to the west, and varied to south-west and south, pro- ducing nearly two weeks of warm, growing weather, interspersed with refreshing showers. On the 28th, the wind changed to south-east, and a plentiful rain followed. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 58. It commenced with a north- east chilly atmosphere, which produced a rain storm. It continued cloudy, damp, and cool, until the 6th, when it cleared with a north- west wind. On the 8th, the wind changed to west, and the atmosphere gradually became warm. On the 12th, the wind southed, and it rained nearly all day ; after which it cleared very warm, and so continued until the 18th, when another easterly rain storm ensued. On the 22d the wind changed to north-west, and MAY. 93 the subsequent day to west and south-west, and the weather became warm and pleasant, and so continued until the month closed. Grass was very heavy. Corn, potatoes, oats, rye and wheat, looked tolerably fair when the month closed. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 62, and it commenced mild and pleasant, with the wind at the west. But on the 3d it changed to the south-west, and there was a smart shower. A spell of warm, plea- sant weather then followed until the 14th, when the wind changed to south-east, and brought three or four overcast and partly rainy days. The wind then changed to south-west again, and very warm, growing weather followed until the month closed. Vegetation was rather more forward than usual, and the prospect was fa- vourable for good crops. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 60. It commenced overcast and cool, with the wind at south-east, and after two or three days of drizzly, unsettled weather, the wind changed to south-west, and the weather was clear and fine until the 1 1th, when the wind changed to north-east, and a spell of rainy, chilly weather continued until the 16th, after which a brisk north-wester blew away all the damp vapour, and brought a clear warm sunshine. The wind then southed, and fine growing wea- ther continued until the 25th, when another cloudy, overcast, rainy season ensued, with an easterly wind, and thus closed the month. 9 94 MA Y. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 59 ; and it was about equally di- vided between fine warm weather, with wester- ly winds, and cool easterly winds, and chilly, overcast, rainy weather. But vegetation looked tolerably well, and there was a fair prospect of abundance of hay and grain, and vegetables of all kinds. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 62. The month commenced de- lightfully pleasant, and showers were as fre- quent as in April. From the 1st to the 20th, the wind was quite variable, from south to north, but on the 20th there was a north-east blow; which soon produced a real storm, and the rain poured down copiously. On the 23d it partly cleared, and on the 25th the wind southed, and the weather became clear and fine, and so continued the remainder of the month. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 64. This was an unusually dry month for May, although she did not forget her easterly rain storm, which, however, was com- paratively moderate. Some very refreshing showers kept vegetation in a very thriving con- dition. Grass appeared short, but corn and potatoes looked very promising, and vegetation generally very fair. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 57, and she was really a frosty jade. Her frowns were many, and her smiles few. Northerly winds, with cold frosty nights pre- MAY. 95 vailed, until every green thing was either killed or withered. A melancholy hue appeared to seal the fate of all vegetable life. Buds and small fruit froze upon the trees. On some mornings there was ice from a quarter to half an inch thick, in exposed situations. Corn was replanted two or three times, and very little ever came to perfection. Westerly and south- west winds prevailed but seven days during the whole month. There were two north-east rain storms. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and it was a month of uncom- monly fine growing weather. Westerly, south- westerly and southerly winds prevailed during almost the entire month, and there were seve- ral thunder showers. It is true, that her north- east rain storm was not forgotten, and the wind was north-west for two days. Appearances were favourable for all kinds of fruit and vege- tables. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 62. It commenced warm, but cool easterly winds, and overcast, rainy weather soon succeeded, and continued until the 10th, when it cleared with a brisk north-wester; but on the 13th the wind changed to south-west, and two weeks of very warm, growing weather fol- lowed, interspersed with fertilizing showers. On the 27th the wind changed to east, and several overcast, rainy days ensued, and the month ended with rain. 1819. The medium temperature of this 96 MAY. month was 60. It commenced with a cool, east- erly wind, and a damp, overcast atmosphere, which soon produced small showers of rain. On the 5th the wind changed to north-west, and it continued coo] for several days. There were two or three frosty nights, which did some injury to bean vines and other tender plants ; but the frost was not so severe as to destroy them altogether, except in some very exposed situations. On the 9th, the wind changed to south-west, and a warm and clear atmosphere ensued, and continued until the 15th, when the wind southed, and the heavens were enshrouded with black and portentous clouds, charged with electric fluid, and terrific thunder and lightning followed, such as the month of May rarely produces. The quantity of rain which fell was small, but the wind was very boisterous. After the shower, the wind changed to north-west, and the weather was quite cool for several days, and two mornings a light frost was perceptible. On the 20th, the wind changed to south-west, and the remainder of the month was fine, warm, growing weather : at the close of which, vegetation looked pro- mising, but rain was much wanted. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 62. It produced much pleasant, growing weather, with some very seasonable rainy days. The wind was very changeable, and from the third w^eek to the close of the month, there was a good deal of cloudy, damp, easterly weather. The north-east rain storm did not occur until the 26th, after which the MAY. 97 wind southed, and the last three days were quite warm and pleasant. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 65. The month commenced with very warm, growing weather, and vegetation looked finely. On the 10th the wind changed to north- east, and three very damp, chilly days ensued, after which it rained part of two days, and then cleared with a warm westerly wind, and the weather was very fine until the 23d, when a south-easterly rain storm occupied two days ; and it continued cloudy until the morning of the 27th, when the wind changed to west, and four very warm days ensued, and thus ended the month, with a prospect of good crops of wheat, rye, oats and hay, and abundance of fruit. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and a remarkably warm month it was indeed. It was the warmest May month for twenty-two years. It seemed as though she was determined to make up for the deficiency and remissness of her sister, April. Very little rain fell, excepting in thunder showers. West- erly and southerly winds prevailed more than three quarters of the month, and on four days the mercury rose to 90 in the shade, and on fourteen days from 80 to 86, at mid-day, in the shade. Vegetation grew very rapidly during the whole month. The prospect for fruit was not very promising. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and there was a good deal of 9* 98 MAY. wet, easterly weather during the first two weeks, interspersed by some pleasant days. On the 13th, the wind changed to west, and it varied from this point to south-west and south, until the 23d, producing some very warm, growing weather. On the 24th the wind changed to north-east, and several days of overcast, damp, rainy weather ensued. On the 28th it cleared, and the month closed very pleasant. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 67, and it commenced mild and pleasant ; but the wind changed to north-east on the 5th, and a cloudy, rainy spell ensued. It cleared, however, on the 10th with a fine westerly wind, and warm, growing weather con- tinued during the remainder of the month, in- terspersed with some rainy days. Vegetation looked very promising. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 62, and there was some cool, cloudy, wet weather, interspersed with some warm, pleasant days until the 12th. From the 13th to the close of the month, the weather was warm and rather dry. Vegetation looked very pro- mising, and there was a fair prospect of pretty good crops. One and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 71. This was the warmest and driest May month that we have on our record, except 1802. We were deprived of our usual easterly rain storm, or even a rainy day during the month, in this vicinity. There was a MAY. 99 sprinkle of rain on four days, and the whole which fell measured only one quarter of an inch. Vegetation was very much parched, and every thing looked in a dying condition. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 62 ; and although not so warm as usual, there was much mild, pleasant weather. The north-east rain storm was longer and more violent than usual, and a cool north-west wind succeeded for several days, but we heard of no frost to injure vegetation, which looked very promising; and there was a fair prospect of much fruit. Two and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 65. It commenced mild and plea- sant, with wind at south-west, but on the 6th it changed to north-east, and overcast, damp, chilly weather followed for several days, and then a rain storm; but on the llth it cleared with a westerly wind, and two weeks of very fine weather ensued, after which the wind changed to south-east, and a whole day of very season- able rain fell ; and fine, growing weather fol- lowed. Three and a half inches rain fell dur- ing the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 64. It was alternately clear and cloudy, with wind varying from east to south until the 5th, when it rained nearly all day. The wind southed on the 6th, and the wea- ther was pleasant and sometimes quite warm, until the 13th, when more rain fell, and the 100 M A Y. wind changed to north-west, and the atmos- phere was cool for several days, after which the wind changed to west, and then to south-west, and a spell of fine growing weather ensued, with some occasional showers. Two and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and it commenced and con- tinued pleasant for a week, when the wind changed to north-east, and a week of cloudy, drizzly, rainy, unsettled weather ensued ; after which the wind wested, and the weather be- came very fine for ten days. It then changed to east and south-east, and considerable rain fell, making three and three quarter inches during the month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 66. The month commenced and continued pleasant until the 8th, when the wind changed to north-east, and some rain fell. On the 9th, the wind changed to north-west, and it was cool until the 12th, when the wind southed, and with the exception of 'three days, it was warm and dry during the remainder of the month. The quantity of rain which fell, was only one inch. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 62. It commenced and continued cool, and alternately clear and cloudy, until the 9th, when it rained. It was then clear until the 15th, when it rained again; after which it was clear until the 19th, when it rained on the 19th and 20th. The remainder of the month MAY. 101 was alternately clear, cloudy and rainy. Five and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 63. It commenced and continued tolerably clear, and on some days it was quite clear, until the llth, when the wind changed to south-east, and it was cloudy, misty and rainy until the 17th. Three days of fair wea- ther then followed. On the 20th it commenced raining again, and it was alternately rainy, misty, cloudy and clear, the remainder of the month. Six inches of rain fell during the month. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 64. It commenced cool, with wind varying from north to north-east. On the 5th it rained all day, and the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, were partly rainy. From the 10th to the 26th, the weather was clear, with a very fine grow- ing atmosphere. From the 26th to the close of the month, it was hazy, overcast, drizzly and unpleasant. Four and a half inches of rain fell during the month. Vegetation was tolerably fair. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 64. It commenced cool and cloudy, with wind east, and it was alternately cloudy and clear until the 8th, when it rained. The wind continued from north to east until the 14th, when it rained all day. From the 14th to the 21st it was pleasant and warm. On the 21st there was a thunder shower, after which 102 M A Y. it cleared pleasant, and so continued the resi- due of the month. Two inches of rain fell during the month. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 63. The first week was warm, clear and pleasant. On the 7th some rain fell ; it was then clear until the 17th, when there was a shower. On the 14th there was a slight frost. It was clear again until the 21st, when there was a thunder shower. It was again clear until the 28th ; from this time to the end of the month, it was cloudy, misty, and rainy. Vegetation was forward and looked very flour- ishing. Two and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 61. It commenced cool, with the wind at north-west. On the morning of the 2d there was a slight frost. On the 3d the wind southed, and the mercury ran up to 74 ; in the evening there was a thunder shower. After which it was warm and pleasant, until the evening of the 9th, when there was a severe thunder shower. It was afterwards clear and warm until the evening of the 15th, when the wind changed to east, and it rained all night and the subsequent day. On the 18th, there was another thunder shower, and also, on the 22d; on the 24th and 25th there were more thunder showers. The residue of the month was clear and pleasant. Five inches of rain fell during the month. 1838. The medium temperature of this M A Y. 103 month was 58. It commenced quite cool, with slight frost on the morning of the 1st. On the 2d the wind changed to east, and it rained more or less on each day until the 10th, when it cleared cool, with the wind at north-west, and it continued clear until the 17th, when a little rain fell. Some rain also fell on the 18th, after which, four clear days followed. It rained a little on the 22d, -23d, 24th, 25th, 27th, 28th, and 29th, in drizzly showers. The 30th and 31st were clear. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. Vegetation very backward and unpromising. 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 62. It commenced overcast and rainy, with wind at north-east, and in the even- ing a heavy thunder shower. In the evening of the 2d there was another thunder shower. The 3d and 4th were clear and cool. There was a slight frost on the morning of the 4th, after which the wind southed, and it was warm and pleasant until the 10th, when the wind changed to north-east, and the weather was cold, dry, and a little frosty for three days. On the 13th, the wind southed and a little rain fell. It also rained a little on the morning of the 14th. On the 15th and 16th, the mercury ran up to 82. On the 17th and 18th it rained a little. It was afterwards quite warm until the 23d, when the wind changed to east. It rained more or less from the 22d to the even- ing of the 28th, when there was a thunder shower, after which it cleared and continued cool until the month closed. Vegetation was 104 M A Y. quite forward and very flourishing. Six and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 61. It commenced cool and windy, with small showers on the 1st and 3d. On the mornings of the 6th and 10th, there were light frosts, but not sufficient to injure vegetation. There was a north-east rain storm on the 9th, after which it cleared cool. The wind southed on the 14th, and the weather became very warm and so continued until the 19th, when it changed to north-east, and it was cloudy, drizzly, and cool until the 26th, when the wind changed to south-west and south, and the remainder of the month was warm and pleasant. Vegetation was very forward and promising. Two and three quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 58. It commenced overcast and drizzly, and so continued until the evening of the 2d, when a little snow fell. On the morn- ing of the 3d, there was ice as thick as window glass, and there was frost on the mornings of the 4th and 5th, and it continued cool, with north- erly and easterly winds until the 17th, when the wind southed, and there was a warm day ! but, during that evening, the wind changed to north-west, and it was again cool until the 21st, when the wind changed to south-west, and the remainder of the month was warm and plea- sant, with the exception of some showers on the 25th, 28th, and 30th. Vegetation was very M A Y. 105 backward and unpromising. The repeated frosts of April and May destroyed a great part of the fruit-buds, &c. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 60. It commenced warm, with wind at south-west, and there was a thunder shower in the P. M., after which, the wind changed to north-east, and on the 2d, 3d, and 4th some rain fell. The 5th, 6th, and 7th were pleasant. On the 8th and 10th it rained. On the llth, the wind southed, and it was pleasant until the 15th, when the wind changed to north- east, and some rain fell on the 15th, 19th, 22d, 24th, 27th, 29th and 3()th. The weather was very changeable during the whole month. Six inches of rain fell during the month. Vegeta- tion was forward and looked promising. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 58. It commenced and continued cool until the 7th, when the wind southed, and the mercury ran up to 76, and in the evening there was a thunder shower. The 8th and 9th were fair. On the 10th there was a north- east rain storm, after which it was fair until the 17th, when some rain fell. During the re- mainder of the month the weather was very unsettled, and a little rain fell on the 20th, 22d, 23d, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th; the last two days were pleasant. Two inches of rain fell during the month. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and it was a very warm May W 106 M A Y. month. On seven days the mercury rose to 80 and above. On the 26th, it rose to 90 at two o'clock, and in the evening there was a heavy shower. The month commenced with summer heat, and so continued until the 12th, when the wind changed to north-east, and some rain fell, and it was cooler until the 16th, when the wind southed, and there was a thunder shower in the evening. There was also a shower on the 17th two thunder showers on the 20th, one on the 26th, 27th, 30th, and 31st, but neither of them were heavy. Vegetation was forward and very promising, and there was a prospect of abundance of fruit. Nearly three inches of rain fell during the month. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 59. It commenced cloudy and mild, and there was a shower in the evening, but, before the month closed, there was almost all kinds of weather. The mercury sunk as low as 40, and rose as high as 82 on three days. Some rain fell on seven days, and hail on one day. On thirteen days the wind changed to every point of the compass ; notwithstanding all these changes occurred, yet there was much plea- sant, growing weather during the month, and vegetation and fruit looked very promising. There was only one and a half inches of rain fell during -the month. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 63. The weather was very varia- ble, and the mercury varied from 40 to 88 dur- ing the month. Some rain fell on twelve days, 3VI A Y. 107 but there was no heavy rain during the month. There was a good deal of pleasant, growing weather, and vegetation and fruit looked very promising. Three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, TOR THE MOZTTH OF JUNE. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 70, It commenced cloudy, but soon cleared pleasant, and so continued until the 5th, when the wind changed to north-east, and several rainy, misty, cool days ensued. On the 12th the wind wested, and warm, showery, growing weather continued until the 22d, when the wind changed to east, and alternate rainy, cloudy, and clear weather filled up the remain- der of the month. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 74, during which, westerly winds prevailed more than half the time. It com- menced warm, and there were showers on the 3d, 6th, 7th, and 10th. On the 12th the wind changed to north-east, and for several days it was overcast, drizzly, and cool. On the 16th it rained a great part of the day. On the 17th the wind changed to south-west, and growing weather, interspersed with thunder showers, continued until the 27th, when the wind changed to east and south-east, and overcast, wet weather closed the month. JUNE. 109 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 72. The first week was warm and pleasant, including two seasonable showers. The next -ten days were variable ; the wind alternating from north .to east, to south-east and south, and the weather was cloudy, over- cast, misty, rainy and clear. On the 18th the wind wested, and the atmosphere was clear and fine until the 25th, when there was a heavy thunder shower, and it cleared with a cool, north-west wind. On the 29th the wind west- ed, and the month closed warm and pleasant, with vegetation looking well. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 76, and it was a warm month, with frequent thunder showers and vivid lightning, which struck in many places in this vicinity. West, south-west and southerly winds prevail- ed a great part of the month. From the 23d to the 30th, the wind varied from north to south-east, and considerable rain fell. Vegeta- tion was forward and very promising. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 70. The month commenced with a cool north-west wind, which changed to west on the 3d, and on the 4th to south-west, and the weather was warm and pleasant until the 10th, when the wind changed to east, and produced several cool, overcast, drizzly, wet days. On the 15th the wind changed to south-west, and fine warm, growing weather followed until the 25th, when the wind changed to north-east, and the last five days in the month were overcast, and sometimes very rainy. 10* 110 JUNE. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and the weather was very va- riable. It commenced warm and pleasant, but on the 6th a cool east wind blew up a wet, rainy, overcast spell, which continued till the llth, when the wind wested, and the weather was very fine until the 19th, when an easterly wet spell ensued, and the weather was very un- settled during the remainder of the month. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced with the wind south, and the weather sultry ; but, after a thunder shower in the evening of the 4th, the wind changed to north-west, and it was cool until the 8th, when the wind wested, and the weather was much warmer. On the llth the wind southed, and it was very warm for seve- ral days, but a thunder shower cooled the air, and the wind changed to north-east, which pro- duced cool, cloudy, drizzly weather, until the 21st, when the wind changed to south-west, and it became very warm and pleasant and so con- tinued, with occasional showers, until the month closed. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 73, during which there was much pleasant weather, with occasional thunder showers until the 20th, when the wind changed to north-east, and a clamp, drizzly, atmosphere ensued until the 25th, when it rained power- fully, and cleared cool with the wind at north- west. On the 28th the wind southed, and the month ended warm. JUNE. Ill 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 74. Part of the month was exces- sively warm. The mercury rose several times to 90 and above at mid-day in the shade. It was seven times from 85 to 89, ten days from 80 to 84. Frequent thunder showers kept the earth well saturated, and vegetation progressed with astonishing rapidity. On the 22d the wind changed to the east, and it rained a part of two days, after which the wind wested, and the month closed very warm. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 71. The month commenced with the wind east, and the atmosphere was cool, damp and drizzly, until the 4th, when the wind southed, and the weather was very fine for ve- getation until the 16th; there being frequent showers. On the evening of the 16th, the wind changed to north-east, and the atmosphere be- came cool and damp. On the 17th and part of the 18th, it rained powerfully; after which it cleared, with the wind at north-west, and two or three cool days ensued. On the 22d the wind changed to west, and on the 24th to south- west, and the last week in the month w r as fine, growing weather. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced with a warm westerly wind and pure atmosphere, and vege- tation arid fruit very forward and looked finely. On the 10th, it rained copiously, with the wind at south-east. On the 12th, the wind changed to west, and afterwards to south-west, and some very warm days ensued, with some heavy 112 JUNE. showers, accompanied by thunder and light- ning. On the 24th the wind changed to east, and two or three damp, rainy days followed, when the wind again wested, and the remain- der of the month was very pleasant. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and it was not quite so warm as some of its predecessors. It was rather more tainted with an easterly atmosphere. Two easterly rain storms occurred during the month, and some drizzly weather, but there were, not- withstanding, quite two weeks of fine westerly winds, and warm, growing weather, and the month closed remarkably pleasant, with abund- ance* 1 of early fruit and vegetables. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 73. After one of the warmest May months experienced for many years, this month commenced and continued very warm until the 16th. The earth, however, was frequently re- freshed with very seasonable showers. But on the 17th, a great re-action took place, by the wind changing to north-east, and the weather becoming very chilly, damp and rainy, for sev- eral days. After which another more agreeable re-action took place, by the wind taking a west- erly direction, which produced some as fine summer weather as was ever experienced, and with which the month closed. 1803. The medium temperature of this month w r as 69. It was a cool, wet month. Easterly winds prevailed, and much rain fell. It was bad for both grain and hay harvest. JUNE. 113 There were, however, some fair days, which were improved to the utmost, and some hay and grain were well got in. We cannot say much in praise of vegetation, thus far. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 67. This month was still cooler than the corresponding month of last year ; and there were two easterly rain storms, besides smaller rains. There was very little good hay and grain harvest weather. Vegetation appear- ed to suffer for want of warmer weather. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 71. It commenced warm, and ve- getation was in a very thriving condition. Both grain and grass looked very luxuriant, and gar- den vegetables and strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, &c., were very abundant. There was no violent easterly storm, but small rains were abundant, and thunder showers were fre- quent and seasonable, and during a part of the month it was very hot. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and the wind inclined very much to the eastward, which produced much wet weather; but the wind occasionally changed to south-west and south, and produced some very warm days. Grass was very luxuriant, but grain was a good deal lodged. Indian corn evidently needed more warm weather. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and there was a full average of pleasant weather. The month commenced and continued warm and pleasant until the 9th, 114 JUNE. when a whole week of easterly damp weather ensued, with some copious rains. On the 17th, the wind wested, and some warm, growing weather followed, until the 25th, when the wind changed to north-east, and it rained part of two days. The 28th brought fine harvest weather, and with this, the month closed. On the whole, vegetation looked well, and the fruit trees pro- mised an abundance. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and it produced several thunder showers, with very vivid lightning, that struck in many places, consuming barns, &c. From the 19th to the 23d, the wind was north-east, and it rained part of two days, after which the wind southed, and the remainder of the month was very warm ; the mercury rose to 90, on three days. Vegetation was very forward and luxuriant, and fruit looked very promising. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and it was indeed a month of fine, growing weather. Thunder, lightning, rain and hot sunshine, made every thing grow apace. Vegetation looked finely, and fruit very inviting, at the close of the month. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and more rain than usual fell. Easterly winds prevailed more than half the month ; there were, however, alternately, some very warm westerly winds, and very growing weather. At the close of the month, vegeta- tion looked very fair, and the prospect of fruit was tolerably good. JUNE. 115 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced with a warm south-west wind, and pleasant weather, which continued for nearly two weeks, with occasion- al showers. On the 12th, the wind changed to north-east, which produced chilly, damp and rainy weather, until the 17th, when the wind wested, and fine, warm, growing weather en- sued until the 25th, when an easterly rain storm occupied two days, after which, fine pleasant weather closed the month, with vege- tation in a very flourishing condition. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 70, during which, the usual variety of June weather was experienced. Two east- erly rain storms occurred and several showers ; there were also, several very warm days, and many that were pleasantly mild, and a few that were cool. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 69, and it furnished more than her usual quota of easterly, wet weather, and some quite cool nights. But she also furnished some very warm cheering weather, yet the weather was not so pleasant as we are accustomed to look for in a summer month. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 71. It commenced and continued warm and very pleasant until the 7th, when a re-action took place, and a whole week of east- erly, wet weather ensued ; after which it clear- ed, with a north-west wind, that soon dispersed all the damp vapours, and brought a cool and 116 JUNE. clear atmosphere. On the 17th the wind changed to south-west, and for several days the weather was quite warm enough ; the mercury ranged from 86 to 90 during five days, and af- ter a heavy thunder shower, the wind changed to north-west, and it was cool until the 25th, when the wind southed, and it was very warm the remainder of the month. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and a more uniformly pleasant summer month has not occurred for several years. There were several pretty severe thun- der showers ; and on the 22d and 23d consi- derable rain fell, but it soon cleared moderately warm, and fine growing weather ensued until the month closed. Vegetation looked very flourishing. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was only 64, arid it was the coldest month of June we ever remember ; there were not only severe frosts on several mornings, but on one morning there was said to be ice. Every green herb was killed, and vegetables of every description very much injured. All kinds of fruit had been previously destroyed, as not a month had passed without producing ice. From six to ten inches of snow fell in various parts of Vermont ; three inches in the interior of New York ; and several inches in the interior of New Hampshire and Maine. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was much very warm, sultry weather, and frequent thunder gusts, JUNE. 117 with very vivid lightning. On five days the mercury rose to 90 and above ; on ten days from 86 to 89 ; and on ten days from 80 to 85. It was a fine month for harvesting grain and hay, as not so much rain fell as usual, and dry westerly winds prevailed a great part of the month. Vegetation was very promising, and fruit of every description very abundant. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and the weather during the month was very like the corresponding month of last year, except that more rain fell, and the crops of grass and grain were much heavier. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced and continued warm and dry until the 9th, when the wind changed to east, and a little rain followed. The wind then wested, and the weather was very fine until the 20th, when another damp, drizzly spell ensued. On the 25th, the wind southed, and the weather w r as warm and dry the residue of the month. 1820. The medium "temperature of this month was 73, and it commenced and con- tinued warm until the 7th, when the wind changed to south-east, and considerable rain fell, after which the wind changed to south- west, and a spell of warm, growing weather ensued, with occasional showers, until the 18th, when the wind changed to north-east, and after- wards to east, and it rained part of two days and then cleared warm, and so continued until the 29th, when the wind changed to east, and 11 118 JUNE. overcast, drizzly weather followed for two or three days. Vegetation was forward and very promising. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 72. This was a wet month. Much damp easterly weather prevailed. But the wind changed to west and south-west frequent- ly, and produced some very hot days. The wind however did not remain long at the west, but after four or live days it easted again, and a rainy spell followed. In this way, the wind and weather kept changing during the whole month, so that farmers had a very sorry time with their harvesting. The grass and grain were very heavy. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 75 ; during which, there was much very hot and dry weather ; and had there not been some very seasonable thunder showers, vegetation would have suffered exceedingly, and crops been very short. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 71. It commenced warm and very pleasant. On the 5th, the wind changed to north-east, and it was rainy and misty for seve- ral days. On the 10th, the wind changed to west and south-west, and a week of fine, grow- ing weather ensued ; but on the 18th, the wind again changed to the east, and another spell of easterly wet weather followed, until the 23d, when the wind wested, and the remainder of the month was delightful weather for harvest- ing grain and hay. JUNE. 119 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 73. It commenced and continued pleasant for ten days, with the exception of a few showers, which were very seasonable. The w r ind then changed to east, and a damp, rainy season followed, until the 15th, when it cleared with a fine westerly wind, and continued warm and pleasant during the residue of the month, with the exception of some very seasonable showers. During the last two weeks, the farmers had fine weather for harvesting their grain and hay, which were very abundant. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 75. It commenced overcast, and a little rain fell, when it cleared warm and plea- sant, with the wind at south-west. On the evening of the 5th, the wind changed to north- east, and a rain storm followed, which con- tinued during the night and succeeding day. On the 7th, the wind changed to south-west, and a very warm spell of weather ensued until the 23d. During which, the mercury rose to 90 and above, on ten days. Three of those days it rose to 96 at mid-day. On the 23d, the wind changed to north-east, and the weather was cool the remainder of the month. Some rain fell on the 1st, 4th, 6th, 18th, 23d, 25th and 27th. The quantity which fell during the month was three and a half inches. to 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 73. The first four days were in- tensely warm, the mercury ranging as high as 90 and above. On the 5th, the wind changed to east, and some rain fell. On the 6th, it was 120 J U N E. so cool, that the mercury at sunrise was only 59, and it did not rise higher than 75 at mid- day. On the 7th, the wind changed to south- west, and a week of very warm, growing wea- ther ensued. On the 14th. the wind changed to north-east, and a spell of cloudy, drizzly weather followed. On the 18th and 19th, some rain fell. On the 25th, there was a very heavy thunder gust. On the whole there was a fair proportion of warm, pleasant weather, for a June month, notwithstanding more or less rain fell on the 3d, 4th, 5th, 18th, 19th, and every day from the 22d to the 27th, and again on the 29th ; and during the whole month, there fell nearly four and three quarter inches. The poor farmers had a poor time for harvesting their grain and hay. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 71 ; and two inches of rain fell. The month commenced cool, and so continued, with the wind varying from north-west to north- east, until the ] 2th, and the atmosphere alter- nately clear and cloudy. On the 13th, the wind changed to south-west, and it was warmer until the 18th, when the wind changed to north- west, arid it was quite cool until the 20th, after which the wind southed, and two da^sof very warm weather ensued. The wind again chan- ged to north-west on the 23d, and from this time until the month closed, it varied daily from north to south-west, without producing a very warm day. There was not a heavy rain during the month, but a little fell on the 3d, 14th, 21st, 22d, 25th, and 26th, making only two inches JUNE. 121 in the whole. Vegetation looked only tolera- ble. 1828. The medium or average temperature of this month was 77, and it was a very warm month ; and although some rain fell on seven days, yet the whole which fell amounted to only two and three quarter inches. The mer- cury rose to 90 on seven days. Vegetation looked very flourishing, and there were good crops of grain and hay. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 73. The first five days were very pleasant. On the 6th, the wind changed to north-east, and some rain fell on the 6th, 7th, and 8th, also on the 17th, 23d, and 27th, amount- ing in all, to three and a half inches. There was no intensely warm weather during the month. Only once the mercury rose to 90 at mid-day, but during the corresponding month of last year, it rose to 90 and above, on seven days. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 72 ; and there was much overcast, damp, rainy weather during the month ; more or less rain fell on thirteen days ; amounting in all, to six inches. The mercury rose to 90 only on one day. Grass was heavy, but corn and grain very backward, having suffered much from the unusual quantity of wet weather, and the absence of a warm sun. On eighteen even- ings and mornings, it was quite cool for June. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 77, and the month was uniformly 11* 122 JUNE. warm. On ten mid-days, the mercury ranged from 88 to 94. On four of these days it was 90 and above. On one day only, was it below 80 at mid-day. Some rain fell on eight days, making in all, three and a half inches. Vege- tation looked pretty well considering the great drought in May. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and it was rather a cool month. Northerly dry winds prevailed. Only one inch and a half of rain fell during the month. At the close of the month vegetation was suffering for rain, as scarcely enough had fallen to lay the dust since the 16th instant. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 65. This was the coldest June month that we have on record, except June 1816. On seven days it did not rise as high as 70 at mid-day. On ten days only it rose to summer heat, (76,) and on four of those days the mercury rose to 80. Indian corn suffered from the cool weather. On seven days some rain fell, making in all, five and a quarter inches. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 69, during which, northerly and easterly winds generally prevailed. Some rain fell on eleven days, making four inches. There were only two very hot days during the month. Vegetation suffered for more warm weather. Neither vegetation or fruit looked very pro- mising. 1835. The medium temperature of this JUNE. 123 month was 71. With the exception of the 5th, (which was overcast, and some rain fell,) the first twelve days were warm and pleasant. On the 13th, 14th and 15th, more rain fell. From the 15th to the 25th, it was fair and pleasant. Rain fell on the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. The whole that fell during the month was six and a quarter inches. The 29th and 30th were fair. It was rather a wet month for harvesting grain i , n to and hay. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 67 ; and it was a cool, wet month. It rained more or less on eleven days, and seven inches and a quarter fell during the month. There was some pleasant weather from the 7th to the 19th, and from the 26th to the close of the month. Vegetation was tolerably fair. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 69. There was not any very warm weather during the month. One day only it rose as high as 88. Some rain fell on eleven days, principally in small quantities ; making in all, about three* inches. Vegetation and fruit looked promising. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and there was some very warm weather during the month. On eight days the mercury rose to 90 and above; and on eight days from 86 to 89. Nineteen days were fair; on ten days some rain fell, and one day was overcast. The quantity of rain which fell dur- ing the month was six and a half inches. Vege- tation improved very much during this month. 124 JUNE. 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 6 ^. On eleven mornings the mer- cury varied from 50 to 58, and during mid-day from to 68. On one day it rose to 85, and one day to 89. Some rain fell on fourteen days, making in all about four inches. There were nine entirely clear days during the month. The others were either rainy, overcast or cloudy. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 69. During twelve days of this month the mercury did not rise to summer- heat (76.) The remainder of the month was pleasant summer weather. Some rain fell on nine days ; the whole making six inches. Ve- getation looked tolerably fair. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 73 ; and there was a fair proportion of warm, pleasant weather. On six days the mercury rose to 90 and above ; and on fourteen days it was from 80 to 88. On nine days some rain fell, principally in showers, measuring in all three and a quarter inches. Vegetation was tolerably fair. The frosts of the previous month not only injured vegetation, but destroyed most of the fruit buds; so that all kinds of fruit was very scarce. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 68. This month fell far short of her usual proportion of warm, growing wea- ther. On two mornings at sunrise, the mer- cury was as low as 45. There was frost in the country on three mornings, and on one day only JUNE. 125 did the mercury rise as high as 86. There were but ten entirely clear days. The remainder were either cloudy, overcast or rainy. On fourteen days, more or less rain fell, making in all three and a quarter inches. Vegetation looked tole- rably well, considering the weather was so un- propitious. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and the weather was very va- riable from the commencement to the close. It commenced with the mercury down to 4 4. In the interior of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and in all the New England states, on the mornings of the 1st and 2d of the month there was frost ; and in some places there was ice as thick as window-glass, which destroyed tender plants and did great damage. There was a snow squall in this city on the P. M. of the 1st. On the 4th the weather moderated ; on the 5th the mercury ran up to 83 ; the 6th and 7th were quite cool ; the 9th and 10th very warm; the llth, 12th and 13th very cool, the mercury ranging from 60 to 70. With the ex- ception of two days, there was pleasant summer weather from the 14th to the close of the month. On eight days a very little rain fell, making in all, one and three quarter inches. Vegetation was only tolerably fair. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and it produced bpth cool and very warm weather. One day the mercury rose only to 68, and three days only to 70, dur- ing mid-day. On four days it rose to 9 J and a little above ; and on twelve days it varied from 126 J U N E. 80 to 88. On nine days some rain fell in show- ers, making, in the whole, three and a quarter inches. There were fifteen entirely clear days. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and a great part of the month was very fine summer weather. One day the mercury rose to 94 ; on seven days from 86 to 88 ; on nine days from 80 to 84 ; on twelve days from 70 to 76 ; and on the last day of the month it rose to 66 only, at mid-day. On ele- ven days some rain fell, principally in showers, making in all three and three-quarter inches. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 69, and there w r as much cool, driz- zly, rainy, and unpleasant weather. More or less rain fell on fourteen days, making the total of four and a half inches. There were only ten en- tirely clear days during the month. The others were either rainy, cloudy, or overcast, during the whole or a part of the day. Vegetation and fruit looked very promising. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 78, and a large portion of the month was very warm. There were several severe thunder storms, and one north-east rain storm. Westerly and southerly winds prevailed. The mercury rose to 90 and above on seven days. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 80. It commenced and continued very warm until the 13th. During those two weeks, there were three very heavy thunder showers. On the 14th and 15th the wind blew cool from the east, but it soon changed again to the south-west, and it continued in this di- rection almost every day during the remainder of the month. There were several very foggy mornings between the 20th and 30th, and very hot days followed, with showers in the evening occasionally. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 77, during which, there was much fine, growing weather, which was good for har- vesting. Fruit and vegetables were abundant, 128 JULY, and crops very fine. There were several very seasonable showers, but the earth was dry not- withstanding, and Indian corn and late potatoes suffered much for a good soaking rain. On the 16th there was a destructive hurricane in New York, small vessels and boats were upset, and sixteen to twenty persons were drowned. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 81, and there was a great deal of excessively hot and dry weather. All the rain that fell was during some violent thunder gusts. The mercury was from 90 to 96 in the shade on ten days, and from 84 to 89 on fifteen days. Vegetation suffered very much for rain. There was a great mortality among the flies. 1794. The medium temperature of this month w r as 73, and it was a cool, wet month ; easterly winds prevailed about half the month. There were, however, some w r arm, pleasant days, and it w r ould have been very strange if the month of July had passed without some warm weather. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 78, and it was indeed, a month of very fine summer weather. Showers were fre- quent. Vegetation looked flourishing, and the crops of hay and grain were very heavy. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 75. There was no intensely hot weather during this month, but good summer weather, and just rain enough. Vegetation JULY. 129 looked well. Of grain and hay, there was a full medium crop. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 76. There were a few very hot, and some quite cool days during the month. During the hot days, there were two severe thunder gusts, and during the cool days, there was an easterly rain storm ; but, in the aggre- gate, it was a pleasant month, and vegetation looked very well, particularly Indian corn. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 80, during which there was much intensely hot, dry weather. On nine days the mercury was 90 and above ; and on thir- teen days from 85 to 89. There were seve- ral heavy and terrific thunder showers. Vege- tation was very flourishing. Much sickness prevailed, particularly among children. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 73 ; during-which, the weather was very variable. The wind was alternately east, west, north and south. It was cool, and it was hot ; it was wet and it was dry. Vegetation looked pretty well, and there was an abundance. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and it was a very prolific month. Vegetables and fruit were very plenty and cheap. There were several severe thunder gusts during two weeks of very warm weather. The other part of the month the weather was very changeable. 1801. The medium temperature of this 12 130 J U L Y. month was 72. This month commenced with an easterly wind, and a cool, damp atmosphere, which poured down a copious rain. On the P. M. of the 3d the wind changed to west- north-west, and the 4th, and for several suc- ceeding days, it was splendid weather. On the 8th the wind changed to south-west, and on the 9th to south, and the weather was very warm until the 17th, when the wind changed to east, and rain fell plentifully. During the remain- der of the month, the wind and weather changed several times. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and it produced much very fine growing weather. On several days the mer- cury rose to 90, and there were some powerful thunder showers. Vegetation looked well, par- ticularly Indian corn. Foggy mornings and hot days prevailed during the whole of the last week in the month. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced cool, overcast, damp, and drizzly, but this unpleasant weather did not continue long, as the 4th brought a splendid day, with a fine westerly breeze, and very pleasant weather continued until the 13th, when the wind changed to east, and rain pour- ed down powerfully. On the 16th the wind southed, and six days of fine harvest weather ensued, which brought the month to the even- ing of the 22d, when the wind changed to south- east, and the weather was very variable during the residue of the month. It was cloudy, drizz- ly, and fair alternately. J U L Y. 131 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 70. The month commenced with a fine westerly breeze and pure atmosphere, and the weather was clear and warm until the evening of the 7th, which produced a tremen- dous thunder shower and vivid lightning, after which it cleared cool with a fresh north-west wind. On the llth the wind southed, and a few very warm days ensued. On the ]6th the wind changed to east, and the atmosphere was cool, overcast and drizzly until the 19th, when it rained all night, and continued cloudy until the 22d, when it cleared warm with the wind south-west. The rest of the month was alter- nately foggy and clear. It was real dog-days' weather. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and the weather was warm and pleasant until the 5th, which brought a damp, easterly atmosphere and some rain ; it contin- ued cloudy and rather cool until the 1 1th, when the wind changed to west, and the atmosphere became very pure, and very fine warm weather followed until the 20th, when the wind changed to south-east, and considerable rain fell between the 21st and 24th, after which the w T ind south- ed, and foggy mornings and warm days en- sued until the month closed. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and the weather was very simi- lar to that of the corresponding month of last year, excepting that not so much rain fell ; therefore, there was more fair and pleasant weather. Vegetation looked very flourishing. 132 j u L Y. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was a great deal of very fine, pleasant weather, interspersed with very seasonable rains ; but westerly and south- erly winds prevailed chiefly. The wind changed to the eastward three times during the month, but it did not remain in that quarter long. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and there was some intensely hot weather, which ran the mercury up to 90 and above on several days in succession : and there were several very severe thunder gusts with terrific lightning. Foggy mornings were more numerous than welcome. From the 20th the wind inclined very much to east and south- east, which produced some damp, drizzly wea- ther towards the close of the month. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 75. It commenced and continued very warm for two weeks, during which there were several very refreshing showers. On the 15th the wind changed to north-east, arid the O ' weather became damp, cloudy and overcast, and rain fell on the 16th and 17th, and it did not clear until the 20th, when the wind changed to west, and a week of very warm weather fol- lowed. The last few days were foggy and damp. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced damp and lowering, and some rain fell. On the morning of the 4th it cleared with a cool north-west wind. On the 7th the wind changed to south- JULY. 133 west, and the weather was warm and pleasant until the 17th, when the wind changed to north-east, and afterwards to east, and it rain- ed a part of two days. On the 21st the w r ind wested, and a week of warm, pleasant weather followed, when the wind changed to south-east, and the month ended in a fog. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was a great deal of very hot and dry weather, and had it not been for a few thunder showers, vegetation would have entirely ceased, and every green thing dried up. The drought was very severe, and continued to the 10th of August. In the eve of the 9th, an awful thunder storm occurred at Alexandria, and many places were struck by lightning, and several persons instantly killed. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 73. Its commencement was cool and damp. Some rain fell on the night of the 2d, after which it cleared with a westerly wind, and nine days of warm, pleasant weather fol- lowed. On the 12th, the wind changed to east, and brought a very seasonable rain. On the 15th the wind southed, and the weather was quite warm until the 24th, when the wind changed to south-east, and a week of damp, drizzly, foggy weather closed the month. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and it was a month of delightful summer weather, neither too warm or too cool. There were seasonable rains and w r arm sun- is* 134 J U L Y. shines, and the fruits of the earth were very flourishing and abundant. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 73. There was much dry weather during the fore part of this month, which gaVe the farmer a fine opportunity to harvest his hay, oats, &c. On the 16th the wind changed to north-east, and on the succeeding day to east, and it rained moderately for part of two days. From the 21st to the close of the month, it was delightful summer weather, and vegeta- tion looked very promising. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 74. There was much very hot and dry weather. Indian corn was very forward and very promising. On the 17th, the wind changed to south-east, and it rained moderately from one o'clock until the next morning, after which the wind changed to south-west, and some very warm weather followed. On the 26th the wind changed to east, and damp, fog- gy, drizzly weather continued until the month closed. 1816. The medium or average temperature of this month was only 68, and it was a month of melancholy forebodings, as during every pre- vious month since the year commenced, there were not only heavy frosts, but ice, so that very few vegetables came to perfection. It seemed as if the sun had lost its warm and cheering in- fluences. One frosty night was succeeded by another, and thin ice formed in many exposed situations in the country. On the morning of JULY. 135 the 5th there was ice as thick as window-glass in Pennsylvania, New York, and through New England. Indian corn was chilled and with- ered, and the grass was so much killed by re- peated frosts, that grazing cattle would scarcely eat it. Northerly winds prevailed a great part of the month ; and when the wind changed to the west, and produced a pleasant day, it was a subject of congratulation by all. Very little rain fell during the month. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 74. The weather during this month was a continuation of the splendid weather of the previous month. The farmer rejoiced at having such a pleasant season for gathering in his early harvest, which was very abundant. Fertilizing showers and warm sunshines, caused the earth to bring forth luxuriantly. Indeed, the earth and the trees were literally load- ed with every good thing. Thunder show- ers were very frequent, and a healthier season, thus far, has not been experienced for many years. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 75. It commenced, continued, and ended well. It was indeed a delightful sum- mer month. There was an abundance of every thing that was good, both of fruits and vegeta- bles. The fine refreshing showers interspersed among the very warm evenings, were very grateful to the feelings of man and beast. At the close of the month, more rain was very much needed. On five days the mercury rose to 90 and above. 136 J U L Y. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 73. It commenced hot and dry. A very heavy thunder gust on the 5th, but very little rain fell. It however cooled the atmosphere, and brought the wind to north- west for a few days. On the 8th it changed to south-west, and a week of very warm weather ensued ; after which it changed to the east, and a very little rain fell during one day, which was very much needed. On the 19th the wind southed, and it alternated from south to west repeatedly, and the residue of the month was fine summer weather, with occasional small showers. Vegetation suffered for rain. 1820. The medium or average temperature of this month was 74. The first two weeks in this month was very fine weather for farmers to finish their grain and hay harvest ; they were only interrupted by two or three thunder showers. There were heavy crops of both hay and grain. Indian corn was very forward, and looked well. There were abundance of vege- tables and fruit. On the 16th the w r ind chan- ged to the east, and several days of overcast, drizzly weather ensued. The wind then west- ed, and the remainder of the month was warm and dry. From the 25th, the mornings were very foggy. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there \vas much very warm weather from the 1st to the 16th; the mercury frequently rose to 90, and very little rain fell. On the 17th the wind changed to south-east, and brought a very seasonable and refreshing JULY. 137 rain, which was much needed. On the 20th the wind changed to west, and several very warm days followed. On the 25th, it again changed to south-east, and some foggy, drizzly weather ensued, and continued until the month closed. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 80, and it was the hottest month since July 1798. A great drought prevailed. Very little rain had fallen since April, except- ing in showers, and those had been few and far between. Vegetation suffered for moisture ex- ceedingly. Eleven days, during the month, the mercury rose to 90 and above. Four days it rose to 97. All the rain that fell was in five thunder showers, and they were comparatively light. All kinds of crops were light, and there was scarcely any grazing for cattle. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 74. The 1st and 2d were warm and pleasant On the 3d the wind changed to east, and some rain fell during the night and subsequent morning, after which it cleared, and ten days of very w^arm weather ensued. On the 14th the wind changed to east, and two days of overcast, misty, rainy weather followed. On the 20th, the weather cleared with a warm westerly wind, which continued until the month closed, with the exception of a few seasonable and refreshing showers. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and the first week was warm and dry. The second week produced some 138 JULY. very seasonable rainy weather ; after which it cleared very warm, and vegetation thrived with great rapidity. On the 19th and 23d there were heavy thunder showers, but they did not cool the atmosphere. From the 25th to the close of the month, the mornings were foggy, but at mid-day it was clear and very warm. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 80 ; and it was a hot and dry month. On fourteen days, the mercury rose to 90 and above. During mid v -day, it was only once be- low 80. At early dawn, it was very variable ; on some mornings it was as low as 62, and on others as high as 76. No heavy rain fell dur- ing the month ; but there were showers on the 3d, 5th, 23d, 25th, and 31st, making, in all, only two inches of rain. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and there were some very warm days during the month. On five days the mer- cury rose to 90. Some rain fell on the 5th, 13th, 17th, and 21st, making in all three and three quarter inches. Vegetation looked very fair. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 75. It commenced and continued very warm until the 5th, the mercury ranging from 90 to 94. Only once afterwards did it rise to 90, during the month. Some rain fell on nine days in showers ; making in all three inches. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 80, and the mercury rose to 90 and JULY. 139 above, on six days ; and on nineteen days, from 80 to 89. Some rain fell on ten days, making in the whole five and a quarter inches. There was a good deal of thunder, and very vivid lightning, which struck in several places, and burnt several barns, &c. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 75. On three days the mercury rose to 90 ; and on twenty-one days, from 80 to 89, at mid-day. There was no heavy rain during the month ; but rain fell in showers on eleven days, making, in the whole, four and a quarter inches. There was considerable thunder and lightning. 1830. The medium or average temperature of this month was 80 ; and it was an intensely hot month. At mid-day the mercury rose to 90 and above, on twelve days. There was much thunder and lightning, and some rain fell on seven days, making, in the whole, a fraction over four inches. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 78, and on ten days the mercury rose to 90, and on some of these days a little above 90. Some rain fell on eight days, mak- ing in all four and a quarter inches. Vegeta- tion looked very promising, and fruit was abun- dant. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 78. There was much very warm and dry weather during this month, and a good deal of thunder and lightning, but very little rain fell, only two and a half inches during the 140 J U L Y. whole month. The mercury rose to 90 on two days, and from 80 to 89 on twenty days. Since May, vegetation had suffered very much for want of rain. Only four inches fell during the last nine weeks. There were some cases of the cholera in Philadelphia. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 77. The mercury did not rise as high as 90 during the whole month. There was a great uniformity in the temperature of the weather during the month. On sixteen days it ranged from 82 to 88 at mid-day ; and the remainder of the month from 72 to 78. Some rain fell on nine days, making in all four inches and an eighth. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 77, and the temperature was very variable. On eight days the mercury rose to 90 and a little above at mid-day, and on seve- ral days it did not rise to summer heat. But very little rain fell until the 29th, when two inches and a quarter fell on that day. The whole that fell during the month was a fraction over four and a quarter inches. 3835. The medium temperature of this month was 76. The temperature of this month was very uniform. The mercury only rose to 90 twice ; but the mercury ranged from 80 to 89 on twenty days during mid-day. More or less rain fell on ten days, making in all six and a half inches. Ten inches of rain fell during the last eight weeks. The farmers had an un- favourable time for gathering their harvest of grain and hay. JULY. 141 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 76, during which there were several very warm days, on two of which the mercury rose to 90, and on twenty days from 80 to 88. More or less rain fell on six days, making in all three inches. Vegetation was very flour- ishing. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 78, and there was more uniformity in the temperature of the weather during the month than usual. The mercury did not rise to 90 once ; but it ranged from 80 to 88 on twenty days. More or less rain fell on eleven days, making in all six inches. There were twenty entirely fair days. Vegetation thus far was not so forward as usual, but after the 18th, the uniformity of heat, and the frequent small showers, gave an impetus to vegetation, and caused it to progress with surprising vigour ; so that at the close of the month vegetation looked very flourishing. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 81, and it was the warmest month in this vicinity, that we have on our record for several years. On eighteen days, (during mid- day) the mercury rose to 90 and above ; on two of these days it rose to 96 \ in the shade, but being placed for thirty minutes in the full rays of the sun, at mid-day, it rose to 143. A small quantity of rain fell on six days, making in all two and a quarter inches ; but only in one in- stance was the atmosphere cooled after a thun- der shower, and in this instance it was cooler 19 142 J U L Y. only for a few hours. There were twenty-one fair, hot and dry days. 1839. The medium or average temperature of this month was 74, during which, there were both cool, and very warm days. On nine days the mercury rose to 90 at mid-day ; one day it did not rise above 67 ; on ten days there were showers, making in all two and a half inches of rain. Thus far the season was uncommonly healthy, and fruitful for every thing pleasant to the eye and delicious to the taste. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and both the wind and the wea- ther were very variable. On three days the mercury rose to 90, and on five days it did not rise^to 76 ; on twelve days it was cloudy ; on seven days some rain fell, making in all four and a half inches. On the 13th there was one of the most terrific thunder gusts which had oc- curred for many years ; the wind blew a com- plete hurricane for about fifteen minutes, dur- ing which some injury was done to the ship- ping, and also to several houses, and many awnings were blown to tatters. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and a great part of which was very fine for harvesting. But there were some scorching days, and others that were cool. On six days the mercury rose to- 90, and a little above. On six days some rain fell, principally in thunder showers, making in all three and a quarter inches. During the thunder shower on the 5th, the lightning struck and burnt two JULY. 143 or three rope-walks and other buildings contigu- ous, about two miles from the city. Several barns were also struck and burnt, in Pennsyl- vania and New Jersey. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 74. This was indeed a month of thunder showers, and great destruction by light- ning, and torrents of rain ; also by wind and hail. The month commenced with the mer- cury at 90. From five to seven o'clock, P. M., on the first day, there was one of the most aw- ful thunder storms passed over this city and vicinity, ever experienced by the present gene- ration. The peals of thunder were astounding, and the lightning the most terrific ever beheld ; and the rain poured down in such torrents for two and a half hours, that several of the streets in the eastern part of the city were covered to the depth of two feet, and many basements and cellars completely filled, and a great amount of goods destroyed. During this shower, nearly six inches of rain fell. The lightning struck and consumed several barns in the vicinity of the city, and several houses were struck in the city and liberties, also several persons were stunned. Some rain also fell on twelve other days, principally in showers, making in all, which fell during the month, TWELVE INCHES ! which is the greatest quantity in any one month we can find on record. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 74, during which there was a great variation in the temperature, from day to day. On the 1st, the mercury was 90, and on the 2d, 144 JULY. it was 96. On the morning of the 3d it was only 60, and did not rise above 72 at mid-day. At sunrise on the 4th it was only 58. During the month it rose to 90 and above, on eight days. More or less rain fell on twelve days, making in all four and a half inches. Vege- tation and fruit were very luxuriant 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 74 ; and there was a good deal of uniformity in its temperature, from day to day. The mercury rose to 90 but once. On twenty days the mercury varied from 80 to 89. More or less rain fell on twelve days, making in all five and a quarter inches. Notwithstanding this part of the country was blest with frequent refreshing rains, other portions were parched by distressing drought. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 76 ; it commenced and continued cool until the 7th, when the wind changed to south-west, and the weather became very warm, and so continued until the 23d, when the wind changed to north-west, and the atmosphere be- came gradually cooler, until the mercury sunk to 58 at sunrise, and 74 during mid-day. From the llth to the 23d, the mercury rose to 90 and above, on ten days. There were thunder show- ers on the 2d, 14th, 16th, 22d, 27th, and 30th, and some sprinkles of rain on three other days, making in all two and three quarter inches. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 74. It commenced and continued overcast and rainy until the 5th, with the wind JULY. 145 from south-east to north-east, when the wind changed to south-west, and it cleared warm; but toward evening, there was a heavy thunder shower. It afterwards continued clear and very warm until the 12th, when there was an- other thunder shower in the afternoon, after which it cleared cooler, and so continued until the 17th, when there was a north-east rain storm; after which the weather was alternate- ly cloudy, drizzly, and partly clear, until the 23d, w r hen the wind changed from east to south- west, and it continued clear nearly all the time until the month closed. Some rain fell on thirteen days, making in all four and a half inches. A meteor passed over this city about nine o'clock on the evening of the 13th of this month, which was afterwards described in the newspapers of Baltimore, Annapolis, York county, Pa., Carlisle, &c. as being much more brilliant than it was here. 13* RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MO3TTH OF AUGUST. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 74, during which there was a good deal of foggy, misty, dog-days' weather, but when the fog dispersed, the sun shone quite warm. On the 12th the wind changed to east, and considerable rain fell. On the 15th the wind changed to the west, and the weather was very warm and pleasant until the 20th, when the wind again changed to east, and a drizzly, over- cast, foggy spell ensued until the 27th, when the wind wested, and the weather was pleasant until the month closed. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 75. This month commenced and continued, very warm, with foggy mornings, and so continued until the 10th, when the wind changed to north-east, and a drizzly, rainy spell followed until the 16th, when it cleared cool with the wind at north-west. On the 19th the wind wested, and it became very warm and pleasant, and so continued, with occasional thunder showers, until the 28th, when the wind AUGUST. 147 changed to east and south-east, and it was foggy, damp and drizzly, until the month closed. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 76, and there was some very hot days. The mercury rose to 90 on three days, and from 84 to 89, on ten days. The weather was hot and dry until the llth, and vegetation suffered very much for rain. On the llth the wind changed to east, and a copious and re- freshing rain followed, to gladden the hearts of many. On the 16th the wind changed to south-west, and the weather was very warm until the 21st, when it changed to north-east, and afterwards to east, and during the remain- der of the month it was alternately foggy, drizzly, rainy, fair, warm, and cool. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was much damp, fog- gy, and very sultry weather, with some cool evenings and mornings, until the 13th, when the wind changed to west, and afterwards to south-west, and there was a terrific thunder shower, with very vivid lightning, which struck in several places. This shower was joyfully received, as it was in the midst of a melancholy drought, and a good deal of sickness prevailed. It was supposed that as many as a hundred cases of yellow fever occurred in the eastern part of the city during the month, and but few persons recovered. Fences were built across the streets, to prevent persons from going into the infected part of the city. After the shower of the 14th, there was no more rain during the 148 A U G U S T. month, but cool, foggy mornings and hot days. The drought and heat continued through Sep- tember and a part of October, and much sick- ness prevailed. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and it commenced cool and damp, with the \vind at north-east. It rained on the 5th, and on the 6th the wind wested, and several very warm days ensued. On the 9th there was a violent thunder gust, and it cleared cooler with the wind at north-west. On the 10th the wind changed to south-west, and O ' cool nights, foggy mornings, and w r arm days followed, until the 18th, when the wind chan- ged to east, and a cloudy, drizzly spell of wea- ther ensued until the 25th; when the wind southed, and foggy mornings and w r arm sunny days continued until the month closed. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 70 ; it commenced warm and plea- sant, with a fine westerly breeze. On the 3d the wind southed, and it continued warm until the 7th, when there was a heavy thunder shower in the evening, which changed the wind to north-west, and it was cool until the 12th, when the wind changed to south-east, and a foggy, damp, cool, drizzly spell continued for a week. On the 19th the wind southed, and it was warm and tolerably pleasant until the 26th, when the wind changed to north-east, and a rainy, chilly spell closed the month. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and easterly winds and foggy, AUGUST. 149 damp, drizzly weather prevailed until the 8th, when the wind changed to south-west, and ten days of warm, dry pleasant weather ensued. On the 19th, the wind changed to north-east, which brought a soaking rain storm, and it cleared on the 21st, with a cool north-west wind, which produced some cold, frosty nights. On the 27th the wind wested, and the weather was warm and pleasant the residue of the month. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 74 ; and there were alternately some very hot, and some quite cool days. Very little rain fell, and owing to the drought, corn and late potatoes suffered very much. Some very foggy, easterly weather prevailed during the last two weeks. Fruit was very plenty, and owing to too free use of it, the dysentery was very prevalent among adults as well as chil- dren, and many children died during the month. 1798. The medium or average temperature of this month was 77, and there was an unusual quantity of very hot and dry weather. Although there were several thunder showers, yet com- paratively but a small quantity of rain fell. Foggy mornings and hot sunny days prevailed a great part of the month. On the 19th the wind changed to north-east, and on the 20th to east, and there was several cool, damp, misty days, but very little rain fell. During this and the succeeding month, several cases of yellow fever again occurred near the wharves, in the eastern part of the city, which was traced to 150 AUGUST. two vessels from the West Indies that came from a sickly port, and had lost part of their crews by the yellow fever; but through the vigilance of the Board of Health, the vessels were sent down to the quarantine and the fever was stopped, after a few cases had occurred. The same fever which occurred in this city in 1793, was also imported by vessels from the West In- dies, where said fever prevailed, but it had then spread to an alarming degree before it was as- certained that it was imported. Perhaps there is not a healthier city on earth than Philadel- phia, and no city which has a more vigilant board of health and police. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and there was a good deal of damp, drizzly, foggy, dog-days' weather. There were, however, a few very hot days, after the fog dispersed, and on two of those days the mercury ran up to 90, and on four others from 86 to 88; during those hot days, there were two severe thunder gusts, which caused some cool weather afterwards. 1800. The medium or average temperature of this month was 72, and it was a month of many weathers. There were several very hot days, with the wind from west to south, which produced some thunder showers. It then changed to north and south-east, and a spell of rainy weather ensued. The wind afterwards changed to north-west, and some cool days and nights followed. The wind then changed to south-east, and the whole country was en- veloped in fog by day and by night. It clear- AUGUST. 151 ed after two days with a brisk north-wester, which blew away all the fog, vapour and un- pleasant fluids, and produced a clear, cool and healthful atmosphere, with which the month closed. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and there was more cool, damp weather than usual for August. Northerly and north-easterly winds prevailed until the middle of the month, after which the wind changed to south-east, and fogs, mists and a drizzly rain followed. On the 19th there was an easterly rain storm ; on the 21st it cleared cool with the wind at north-west, and afterwards to south- west, and foggy mornings and hot days ensued until the month closed. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and it commenced very warm and dry, with wind varying from west to south until the llth, when it changed to east, and a very refreshing rain fell, and on the 14th the wind southed, and foggy mornings and hot days followed until the 20th, when the wind changed to east, and the weather was very va- riable the residue of the month. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and it commenced overcast and drizzly with the wind east. On the 5th the wind wested, and it was warm and pleasant until the 13th, when the wind changed to south-east, and several days of wet weather en- sued. The wind then changed to north-west, and three quite cool days followed; after which, 152 A U G U S T. it southed, and live days of foggy mornings and warm sunny days occurred; when the wind again changed to east, and the remainder of the month was damp and cool. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 69, and a very cool month it was. On two or three mornings light frosts were very perceptible. From the 8th to the 14th, the wind varied from west to south, and there was one week of pleasant weather. On the 15th it changed again to east, and a long spell of foggy, drizzly, rainy weather ensued. On the 24th the wind changed to north-west, and on the 27th to south-west. On the 28th there was a thunder gust, after which it cleared cool, and thus the month ended. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 70. It commenced foggy, and af- terwards cleared warm, and so continued, until the 10th, when the wind changed to east, and a whole week of damp, drizzly weather ensued. On the 16th the wind changed to west, and afterwards to south-west, and several very warm days followed. On the 21st the wind changed to north-east, which produced four cool, chilly days. On the 25th it changed to east, and foggy, damp, drizzly weather closed the month. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 69, and it w r as cool and unpleasant for several days ; after which some foggy morn- ings and hot days ensued. After the 20th there were several overcast, drizzly, rainy days. There was a light frost on two mornings, and AUGUST. 153 the weather during the month was very varia- ble. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 71. The month commenced with a clear atmosphere, and a refreshing westerly breeze. It continued very fine (with the wind varying from west to south-west,) until the 7th, when a heavy thunder shower occurred in the evening. On the morning of the 8th the wind blew fresh and cool from the north-west, and it continued cool until the llth, when the wind wested, and it became much warmer. On the 15th the wind southed, and there was a heavy thunder gust, after which the wind changed to the north-east, and a damp, drizzly, cool atmos- phere followed until the 23d, when the wind changed to south-west, and foggy mornings and warm days ensued until the month closed. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and foggy mornings and hot days followed, during the first week ; when the wind changed to east, and four days of damp, drizzly weather ensued ; after which the wind wested, and there was a spell of warm, splendid weather, with the wind varying from west to south, during which there were two severe thunder gusts. On the 21st the wind changed to east, and considerable rain fell. On the 24th it cleared with the wind at south-west, and several warm days ensued. On the 29th the wind changed to south-east, and the residue of the month was extremely foggy and damp. During the month, the mercury rose to 90 on three days, and on eight days from 85 to 88. 14 154 AUGUST. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and the mornings were foggy, and mid-days very warm until the 5th, when the wind changed to east, and the weather was overcast, damp and drizzly until the 28th, when the wind changed to west, and a whole week of clear dry weather ensued. On the 16th there was a violent thunder shower, with terrific lightning ; at the close of the shower some hail fell, which broke much window-glass. On the 17th the atmosphere was quite cool, with the wind at north-west. It continued cool until the 20th, when the wind southed, and some foggy mornings and warm days fol- lowed until the 26th, when the wind changed to east, and damp, drizzly weather continued until the month closed. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 69 ; and the month commenced in a dense fog, and foggy mornings and warm days followed until the 4th, when there was a heavy thunder gust, which brought the wind to north-west, and cool weather continued until the 9th, when the wind changed to south-west, and it was warm and pleasant until the 14th, when a dry, chilly north-east wind followed, until the 21st, at which time the wind changed to south-east, and it rained on the 22d and 23d, and the weather continued cool, damp and drizzly until the 26th, when the wind changed to west, and the weather was pleasant until the month closed. The season abounded in fruit and vegetables of all kinds, and Indian corn and potatoes promised an abundant yield. AUGUST. 155 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 73. The month commenced hot and dry, and so continued until the llth, when the wind changed to east, and on the 12th it rained moderately nearly the whole day. The atmosphere continued cool until the 17th, when the wind southed, and eight days of very warm weather ensued. On the 25th the wind changed to north-east, and on the 26th to east, and a foggy, damp atmosphere concluded the month. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 71 ; it commenced cloudy and damp, but the 2d brought a westerly wind and clear atmosphere, and it continued warm and plea- sant until the 10th, when a thunder gust brought the wind to north-west, and three days of cool weather ensued. On the 15th the wind changed to east, and it became overcast, damp and drizzly for several days. On the 20th the wind southed, and foggy mornings and warm days followed, until the 26th, when the wind changed to north-east, and it was quite cool and damp until the month closed. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and much cool, damp, overcast weather prevailed during the month. Some- times the wind changed to west or south-west, for a few days, and fine, clear, and splendid weather followed. It then suddenly changed to north-east, and produced a cool, damp atmos- phere, and after two or three days it changed to east, and rain followed for a day or two. In this way the weather alternated during the whole month. There were, however, some 156 AUGUST. very foggy mornings and warm days. On the 27th there was a destructive gale at Charleston, S. C., which did immense damage to the ship- ping, &c. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and it was a month of great changes of weather. It commenced very warm, with the wind at south-west. On the 5th, after a heavy thunder gust, the wind changed to chilly north-east, and many persons took vio- lent colds, owing to the great and sudden change in the weather. In twelve hours the mercury sank from 90 to 60. It continued cool until the 9th, when the wind changed to south-east, and foggy, drizzly weather ensued until the 12th, when it cleared with a cool north-west wind. On the 15th it changed to south-west, and it was warm and pleasant until the 21st, when a thunder gust produced a cold north- west wind, which continued for three days. The wind went down with the sun, and during each night there was a light frost. On the 25th, the wind southed, and foggy mornings and warm days ensued until the month closed. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and it commenced enveloped in a dense fog, which the sun did not wholly dis- perse until eleven o'clock, when it shone very hot. Foggy mornings and oppressively warm days continued until the 6th, w T hen a violent thunder shower, with terrific lightning, cooled the atmosphere, and changed the wind to north- west. On the 10th it changed to east, and a thick, misty atmosphere ensued, with occasional AUGUST. 157 rain, until the 15th, when the wind changed to west, and a week of delightful weather follow- ed. On the 22d the wind changed to south- east, and an overcast, damp, drizzly spell of weather ensued until the 27th, after which it cleared with a westerly wind and pure atmos- phere, which continued until the month closed. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was only 66 ! and such a cheerless, des- ponding, melancholy summer month, the old- est inhabitant never, perhaps, experienced. This poor month entered upon its duties so perfectly chilled, as to be unable to raise one warm, fog- gy morning, or cheerful sunny day. It com- menced with a cold north-east rain storm, and when it cleared the atmosphere was so chilled as to produce ice in many places half an inch thick. It froze the Indian corn, which was in the milk, so hard, that it rotted up on the stock, and farmers mowed it down and dried it for cattle-fodder. Every green thing was destroy- ed, not only in this country but in Europe. Newspapers received from England said, " It will ever be remembered by the present gene- ration, that the year 1816 was a year in which there was no summer." Indian corn, raised in Pennsylvania in 1815, sold (for seed to plant in the spring of 1817,) for four dollars per bushel in many places. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 72 ; during which, there was much delightfully pleasant weather. There were fine crops of grain and vegetables of every de- scription, and fruit was very abundant and joy 14* 158 A U G U S T. and gladness filled every heart. Seasonable rains, warm sunshines, and foggy mornings continued until the month closed. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and it was a hot and dry month. Foggy mornings and intensely warm days fol- lowed each other in quick succession until the middle of the month, before any rain fell, ex- cept the skirts of two thunder showers, which passed south of the city. At last the wind changed to east, and it rained part of a day and night, to the joy of thousands, and afterwards cleared much cooler, and so continued until the 24th, when the wind again southed, and foggy mornings and warm days followed until the month closed. On five days the mercury rose to 90, and on thirteen other days it rose from 84 to 88. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and it was clear and moderately warm until the 13th, after which foggy morn- ings and hot days followed until the 23d, with a distressing drought. Almost every thing was parched up. On the 23d there was a thunder gust, with terrific lightning, but not much rain fell in this vicinity ; after the shower, a cool north-west wind succeeded for several days, when the wind southed, and foggy mornings and warm days ensued until the month closed. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 70, during which there was much cool, wet, easterly weather, and when the wind changed to west or south-west, the re-action , . A U G U S T. 159 was extremely oppressive. For several days the mercury ran up to 88 and 90, and there were several alarming cases of fever in the east- ern part of the city, which originated from clothes and bedding sent from a vessel that had recently arrived from the West Indies ; but the cases were confined to a few families, and the alarm soon subsided. From the 22d to the close of the month, damp easterly weather pre- vailed. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 73. It commenced with foggy mornings and warm sunny days, which con- tinued until the 9th, when there was a tremen- dous thunder shower, which changed the wind to north-west, and several cool days followed. On the 13th the wind wested, and a week of delightful weather ensued ; after which, it changed to east, and there was a copious rain. From the 24th to the close of the month, foggy mornings and warm days followed. A few cases of fever occurred, as in the corresponding month of last year. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 76, and there was much oppres- sively hot weather, and but very little rain fell. Westerly and southerly winds prevailed a great part of the month. From the 18th the fog was so dense and wet, it was like a misty or drizzly rain ; and as the sun dispersed the fog late in the morning, it then shone with almost a scorch- ing heat, and for eight days the mercury ran up to 90 and above ; on two days it reached 96. During this month, the yellow fever pre- 160 AUGUST. vailed in New York city, and there were a few instances in this city. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and foggy mornings and warm days ensued, until the 8th, when the wind changed to north-east, and cool, damp weather followed until the 1 1th, after which, the wind changed to east, and it rained moderately dur- ing the day. On the 13th the wind changed to north, and there was a week of cool weather, when the wind wested, and some moderately warm weather followed until the 25th, when the wind changed to south-east, and damp, drizzly weather closed the month. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and it commenced with the wind at north-east, and a cool, damp, drizzly atmos- phere followed until the 5th, when the wind changed to west, and on the 7th, to south-west, and the weather was warm and dry until the 15th, when the wind changed to east, and a very seasonable rain fell. On the 17th, the wind changed to north, and it was quite cool until the 22d, when the wind wested, and warm and delightful weather ensued, until the month closed. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 72. It commenced with a warm westerly wind, and the mercury ran up to 86 at mid-day ; but on the 2d the wind changed to north-east, and it was cool until the 5th, when the wind southed, and it was quite warm until the llth, after which the wind changed AUGUST. 161 to north-east, and three days of cool weather ensued. On the 14th, the wind changed to south-west, and three days of intensely hot weather followed, with the mercury ranging from 92 to 94. On the 17th, the wind again changed to north-east, and it was cool until the 25th, (rain falling on part of those days.) From the 26th until the month closed, it was quite warm. The mercury rose to 90 and above, on five days. On one day, it did not rise above 62 ; and on several other days it did not rise to summer heat. Some rain fell on eight days, making in all three and three quarter inches. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and it produced quite a variety, both as it respects wind and weather. It com- menced very warm, and the mercury ran up to 90 at mid-day. On thirteen other days, it ranged from 80 to 85, and on fourteen other days, it ranged from 70 to 76, at mid-day. On nineteen days, the wind was from north-east to east. On the remaining days, it was from north to south-west. There was no regular rain storm during the month, but a little rain fell on eleven days, making in all two and three quarter inches. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 70; it commenced and continued very warm until the 12th. with the wind at south-west, when it changed to north-east, and it was cooler until the 21st, which was very warm. But from the 22d to the close of the month, it was much cooler ; on two or three of those days, it did not rise to 70 at mid-day, and 162 AUGUST. only to 57 at sunrise. On the 26th, there was a north-east rain storm, during which more than three inches of rain fell, and some rain fell on three other days, making in all five and three quarter inches. The mercury rose to 90 and above, on the 4th, 5th, and 6th, and from 85 to 88 on seven other days. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 76. The first three days in this month were very warm, the mercury ranging from 88 to 91. On the 4th, the wind changed to north-east, and one and a quarter inches of rain fell, which was the only rain that fell dur- ing the month, except a very little on two other days, making in all one and a half inches. From the 7th to the 17th, inclusive, it was very warm, when three days of cooler weather en- sued. From the 2] st to the close of the month, it was very warm and very dry. The mercury rose during the month to 90 and above, on nine days, but not in succession. There was much thunder and lightning during the month. 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 75. This was also a warm month, but not so intensely hot and dry as the corres- ponding month of last year. Much more rain fell, and the temperature was more uniform. The mercury rose to 90 and above, on three days only ; and it ranged from 83 to 88 on fif- teen days. More or less rain fell on eight days, making in all four and a half inches. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 75. This month was uniformly AUGUST. 163 warm, with a few exceptions. The mercury rose to 90 only, on four days ; and from 84 to 88 on fifteen days. More or less rain fell on eight days, making in all four inches. There were two severe thunder gusts during the month. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 76 ; and it was a very warm month. On ten days, the mercury rose to 90. Wester- ly and southerly winds prevailed a great part of the month. More or less rain fell on eight days, making in all five and a quarter inches. There was much thunder and lightning during the month. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 74. There was a great uniformity of temperature during the month. The mer- cury^did not rise to 90 once, but it ranged from 84 to 88 on thirteen days. More or less rain fell on nine days, making in all five and three quarter inches. During this and the previous month, the cholera prevailed in Philadelphia. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was great uniformity in the temperature of this month, although there were a few very cool days. The wind was exceedingly variable, and more or less rain fell on seven days, making in all three and a quarter inches. There were some foggy morn- ings, and two thunder gusts. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 73 ; and it was a very dry and cool month. North and north-east winds prevailed 164 AUGUST. very much. There were, however, nearly two weeks of westerly winds, which produced a very heated atmosphere. The drought was very severe. Only a fraction over an half inch of rain fell during the whole month. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 72 ; and the temperature was very variable. The weather was very warm for some days, and then cool. And it varied in this way several times during the month. A very little rain fell on eleven days, the whole measuring only two inches. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 70. It commenced warm, with the mercury at 86, and afterwards it continued moderately warm until the 5th, with the mer- cury at 80 in the shade, at mid-day; after which the wind changed to north-east, and some rain fell. It then continued cool until the 14th, when the wind changed to south-west, and it was moderately warm until the 20th, when the wind again changed to north-east, and it continued cool until the month closed. A little rain fell on five days, making in all two inches. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 75 ; and a great part of the month was uniformly warm. The first three days, the mercury ranged from 84 to 89. The 8th and the 30th, were 90. The remaining days, (with a few exceptions,) were warm and plea- sant. There was very little fog during the AUGUST. 165 month. Rain fell on nine days, making in all about three inches. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 77, and there were some intensely hot days, and severe thunder showers. On nine days the mercury was from 90 to 95 in the shade. And on twelve days, from 84 to 89. On four days there were terrific thunder showers. That on the llth was truly awful, extending from Virginia, through the middle and New England States. Many persons were killed by lightning ; houses and barns were burnt; vessels struck and set on fire, and many animals of various descriptions killed. During a part of the shower, the wind blew a perfect hurricane. In Maryland, several houses and other buildings were demolished ; and in many other places buildings were unroofed, &c. Sev- eral barns were struck by lightning and burnt in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, &c. In Chesapeake bay, several small vessels were capsized, and several persons drowned. We saw published in the newspapers, the names of twenty-six persons that were killed during this storm, in various places. During the month, more or less rain fell in this city, on six days, making in all about two inches. 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 70, and it was really a weeping month. More or less rain fell on sixteen days, making in all about four and three quarter inches. A great majority of the mornings and evenings were enveloped in fogs. There were but five entirely clear days during the month ; 15 166 AUGUST. and on no day did the mercury rise to 90, and only once to 88. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 74 ; and it was uniformly warm from the commencement to the close, but not intensely so. On one day only, the mercury rose to 90. Rain fell in showers on twelve days, making in all five and a half inches. There were ten entirely clear days, free from clouds, fog or rain. Several barns were struck and consumed by lightning on the llth and 12th, in the vicinity of Bristol, Burlington, and Trenton. 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 71, and the heat was very uniform; in only one instance did the mercury rise so high as 87, at mid-day, in the shade, and in only one instance was it so low as 74 at mid- day. More or less rain fell on twelve days, making in all nine inches. There were ten entirely clear days, and but very few foggy morn- ings during the month. The season was de- lightfully pleasant and fruitful. 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 72, and it was a fair specimen of what dog-days were in olden times, about equally divided between foggy, hazy, over- cast, cloudy, rainy and sunny. Some nights so cool that a double-milled blanket was com- fortable, and others so hot that a thin covering was burdensome. The month commenced with the mercury down to 53 at sunrise, and it did not rise above 70 at mid-day. On the 14th it AUGUST. 167 rose to 80, when the wind southed, and the re- mainder of the month was warm summer wea- ther. More or less rain fell on fourteen days, making in all three and three quarter inches. There was a tremendous thunder storm before day-light on the morning of the 18th, and the lightning struck in several places. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 75, and it was a month of disasters, by storms, floods, tornadoes, thunder and light- ning, &c. On the morning of the 5th a tre- mendous north-east rain storm commenced and continued until eight o'clock in the evening. Towards night there was terrific thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down in fright- ful torrents. The streets were completely flooded in every direction. In many parts of the city and liberties cellars and basement sto- ries were filled with water, to the great destruc- tion of goods and other property. During the latter part of the storm there was a violent tor- nado, which swept down the Schuylkill river, and did great damage to forty vessels, either loading, or waiting to load with coal. Several houses and other buildings in the vicinity of the Schuylkill, were either blown down or greatly injured, and much other damage done. One man was instantly killed, and several per- sons greatly injured. But the disasters in this city and vicinity, when compared with those sustained in the adjoining county of Delaware, were comparatively small. In that county about thirty persons lost their lives, and public and private property was destroyed to the 168 AUGUST amount of half a million of dollars, consisting of mills, factories, houses, barns, grain, hay, fur- niture, factory goods, stock, &c. ; fifty bridges were swept away by the flood, and immense other damage sustained. A storm, attended with such disastrous results, was scarcely ever experienced before in this part of the country. During the same storm, great damage was sus- tained at Norristown, Upper Merion, &c., in factories, mills, bridges, &c. ; also, at Wilming- ton, Brandy wine, Newark, Elizabeth town, and in various other places immense damage was likewise sustained. There were also great and destructive floods during the month, in Mary- land, Virginia, North Carolina, city of Wash- ington, and in the states of New York, Con- necticut, &,c. Nine and a quarter inches of rain fell in this city during the month. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 73, and it presented a series of most delightful weather. The season was the most prolific for vegetables and fruit which had oc- curred for several years. There was no heavy storm during the month in this vicinity. On seven days there were refreshing showers; and the whole quantity of rain which fell during the month was only two and a half inches. There were seventeen entirely clear days dur- ing the month. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 74, and there was much oppressive- ly hot weather, and a very uncommon number of severe thunder showers, with very terrific lightning. More or less rain fell on fifteen AUGUST. 169 days, and principally in showers, making in all seven and a quarter inches. Although the mercury rose to 90 but once, yet it ranged from 84 to 89 on fifteen days, in the shade. 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 75. It was a month of great hu- midity. The wind was either east or north- east, the whole or a part of nineteen days. There was either a drizzly rain or showers, on thirteen days. There were many foggy morn- ings; after which the sun shone with great power. On thirteen days the wind was from the west or south-west, the whole or a part of the day. On four days, the mercury ranged from 90 to 92 in the open air in the shade, and on nine days it was from 84 to 88, in the shade. There were twelve clear and cloudless days. The rain which fell was principally in small showers, making in all four and a quar- ter inches. 15* RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MOIfTH OF SEPTEMBER. 1790. The medium temperature of this month was 66, and there was much warm and very pleasant weather, with some seasonable showers. The equinoctial storm passed off very lightly in this latitude, but it was very severe at the south. About three inches of rain fell during the month. 1791. The medium temperature of this month was 64. There was also much pleasant weather during the month. There were seve- ral very plentiful showers, and considerable rain fell about the time the sun crossed the line, but the wind was not boisterous in this vicinity. 1792. The medium temperature of this month was 63. It commenced cool and damp, with the wind at the eastward, but it changed to west on the 5th, and afterwards to south- west, and ten days of remarkably pleasant weather ensued. Some rain fell on the 16th, and it cleared much cooler. On the 22d the wind changed to nort-east, and blew very fresh SEPTEMBER. 171 for a night and a day, and considerable rain fell. During the remainder of the month, the weather was very variable. 1793. The medium temperature of this month was 70. There was much intensely hot weather. After a foggy, damp atmosphere through the night, and until nine o'clock in the morning, (with the wind south,) the sun shone out with such intense heat, as to cause the mer- cury in Fahrenheit to run up to 90 and above. From the 1st to the 13th, it was seven times at 90, and on some days a little above ; and on eleven other days during the month, it was from 84 to 88. The nights, in general, were cool, foggy, and damp. The drought was very dis- tressing ; very little rain had fallen since July. Vegetation was parched up. There was neither grazing or water for cattle, and many died in various parts of the country for lack of food and drink. Lakes, streams, springs and wells, that had never been known to be dry, were then without water. And during this distressing season of heat and drought, the yellow fever was raging in this city to a frightful degree. But while the inhabitants of this city and vi- cinity could send to the Delaware and Schuyl- kill for water, in many parts of the country the inhabitants were compelled to haul their water from ten to twenty miles in casks. The drought continued until October. The earth was lite- rally like powder and dust, except clay land, which baked as hard as a pine board. 1794. The medium temperature of this month was 62 ; and it was a month of many 172 SEPTEMBER. weathers ; from quite warm to cold and frosty, and from mild and pleasant, and then stormy and unpleasant. The wind varied from north- west to west, and south. It was also north- east and south-east. Some rain fell on seven days, making in all about four inches. 1795. The medium temperature of this month was 64 ; it commenced with a cool, dry, north-east wind, which changed to south-east on the 4th, and some rain fell on the 5th. It cleared with a westerly wind, and two weeks of clear, mild weather ensued. On the 20th the wind changed to north-east, and after blow- ing fresh for three days, it changed to south- east, and it rained powerfully all one night and part of a day. From the 26th to the close of the month it was mild and pleasant. Six" inches of rain fell during the month. 1796. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and it was a month of splendid weather, with just showers enough to keep the dust laid, and thunder and lightning enough to keep the atmosphere pure. The mercury va- ried from 84 to 88 at mid-day, on nineteen days. The remainder of the month was cool. Some rain fell on six days, making in all about three inches. 1797. The medium temperature of this month was 66 ; during which there was much pleasant weather, as well as much that was cloudy, and some that was very rainy. And to make up the variety of the month, there were SEPTEMBER. 173 two or three very warm days, and a few frosty nights. Five inches of rain fell. 1798. The medium temperature of this month was 69 ; and during a part of the month, the weather was extremely warm. On three days the mercury was at 90 at two o'clock, and on several days it varied from 80 to 88. Very little rain fell during the month, not more than two and a half inches. The yellow fever pre- vailed for a short time, during August and Sep- tember, but not to the extent it did in 1793. 1799. The medium temperature of this month was 66. There were no very warm days during this month, but many that were very pleasant. There was considerable more damp and rainy weather than usual, for Sep- tember. More or less rain fell on nine days, making in all about five inches. The wind was very boisterous at north-east, about the time the sun crossed the line. 1800. The medium temperature of this month was 68. There were several very foggy mornings and hot sunny days. Twelve en- tirely clear days ; nine that were partly clear and partly cloudy ; and nine in which more or less rain fell, making in all about three and three quarter inches. 1801. The medium temperature of this month was 64. It commenced and continued mild and pleasant until the llth, when some rain fell, and the weather remained unsettled 4 until the 16th. The wind then southed, and it was warm and pleasant until the 21st, then 174 SEPTEMBER. the wind changed to north-east, and it was cloudy and damp until the 24th, when a copi- ous rain descended, and it did not clear until the 29th. The month ended very pleasant, but cool and frosty. 1802. The medium temperature of this month was 66. It commenced cool, with the wind at north-west, and it varied from this point to north and north-east until the 7th, when some rain fell. On the 9th the wind wested, and a week of quite warm and pleasant wea- ther ensued. The wind then changed to south- east and some rain fell ; it then southed , and five warm days ensued. On the 23d the wind changed to east and blew very fresh for two or three days, during which rain fell several times, after which it cleared cool, and so continued until the month closed. 1803. The medium temperature of this month was 65, during which there was much pleasant weather. Some rain fell on six days, making in all about three inches. Very little of the equinoctial storm (so called) was felt in this latitude ; but there was a great blow in the gulf stream, &c. 1804. The medium temperature of this month was 70, during which there were some intensely warm days. The mercury rose to 90 on three days. On the 1st it was 92; on the 2d 88 ; on the 3d 86 ; and on the 4th 90 ; after which the wind changed to north-east, and it became quite cool for two days. On the 6th and 8th there were a few sprinkles of rain, SEPTEMBER. 175 and the wind afterwards changed to south-west, and the weather was oppressively hot and dry until the 23d, when the wind changed to north- east, and a damp, cloudy, drizzly spell ensued, and the weather remained in an unsettled state until the month closed. On the 4th, 5th and 6th there was a terrible hurricane in the West Indies, in which 274 vessels and a great many sailors were lost. 1805. The medium temperature of this month was 66, during which there was no re- markably warm weather, but much that was pleasant. The equinoctial storm was severe on the American coast, and considerable injury was sustained by vessels. Some rain fell on seven days, making in all about four inches. 1806. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and there were some cool morn- ings and evenings, with some foggy and hot sunny days ; also, some rainy days, particular- ly during the last two weeks, making in all about five and a quarter inches. 1807. The medium temperature of this month was 66. The first two weeks were very pleasant, with the wind varying from south to west. But the last two weeks were very va- riable, both as to wind and weather. Some rain fell on seven days, making in all about three and three quarter inches. 1808. The medium temperature of this month was 67. It commenced with foggy mornings and warm sunny days, but not in- tensely hot. The weather was very uniform 176 SEPTEMBER. in temperature a great part of the month. There were several very seasonable showers, and about the time the sun crossed the line the wind blew very fresh at north-east, and con- siderable rain fell, making in all that fell dur- ing the month about five and a half inches. 1809. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and much very warm and dry weather prevailed until after the 22d, when the wind changed to north-east and blew very hard for two days and one night, during which some rain fell. The whole which fell during the month was about two and three quarter inches. During the first week the mercury rose to 90 on three days. On eleven other days it varied from 84 to 88 during the first three weeks. 1810. The medium temperature of this month was 66, during which the weather was very variable. The wind frequently changing from north to east, and from east to west and south, and the temperature of the atmosphere of course changed with the wind. There was much damp, drizzly weather, as well as some that was very warm and pleasant. About three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. On the 7th there was a very destructive hurri- cane in South Carolina and Georgia and many lives lost. 1811. The medium temperature of this month was 6^, and the weather was remarka- bly uniform and pleasant a great part of the month. There were two days that the mer- cury ran up to 90, and thirteen days in which SEPTEMBER. 177 it varied from 83 to 88. There were two thun- der gusts during the first two weeks. From the 21st to the close of the month easterly winds and damp, drizzly weather prevailed a great part of the time. On the 8th there was a terri- ble tornado at Charleston, S. C., and many lives lost and great destruction of property. 1812. The medium temperature of this month was 67. It commenced foggy and warm, with the wind south, but on the 5th it changed to east and some rain fell, after which it changed to west, and a week of warm, plea- sant weather ensued. The wind then changed to north-east for three days, after which it southed, and it was warm and pleasant until the 24th, when a north-east rain storm set in ; af- ter the storm it cleared very cool with a north- west wind. 1813. The medium temperature of this month was 66, and there was much pleasant weather the first two weeks, with several small showers. From the 14th to the 18th a damp, easterly wind prevailed, after which the wind changed to west, and five very pleasant days ensued. It then changed to north-east and it rained for a day and night, after which it cleared cool and frosty. Nearly four inches of rain fell during the month. 1814. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and the weather was very va- riable. After the first week the mornings and evenings were quite cool, and northerly winds prevailed until the 13th, when the wind chan- 16 178 SEPTEMBER. ged to south-west, and it was warm and plea- sant until the 20th. The wind then changed to north-east, and damp, rainy weather ensued until the 25th, when the wind wested, and the month closed warm and pleasant. About three and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1815. The medium temperature of this month was 67; and during the first three weeks there was much warm and remarkably pleasant weather. There were two thunder gusts and two other showers. The wind varied from west to south, during the three weeks men- tioned above. On the 22d the wind changed to north-east, and the equinoctial storm was severe from south to north. About five inches of rain fell during the month. 1816. The medium temperature of this month was 62, and it produced more than two weeks of the mildest and pleasantest weather there had been during the whole season, for such a length of time; but on the 17th, after some rain fell, the wind changed to north-west, and a chilly, frosty atmosphere ensued; and the 23d brought a cold north-east wind and a violent equinoctial rain storm, which continued for two days. After which it cleared with a brisk north-west wind, and for several succeed- ing nights water froze a quarter of an inch thick in -shallow ponds. About five inches of rain fell during the month. 1817. The medium temperature of this month was 64; and the first three weeks pro- SEPTEMBER. 179 duced much mild and pleasant weather, with some seasonable showers, with the wind vary- ing from north to south. About the time the sun crossed the line, the wind changed to north- east, and it blew very hard for a day and night, and some rain fell. It afterwards cleared cool and frosty. About three inches of rain fell dur- ing the month. 1818. The medium temperature of this month was 66. It commenced and continued very warm until the 7th, during which the mercury rose to 90 on three successive days, and from 86 to 88 on four other days. On the night of the 7th, the wind changed to north- east, and the mercury sunk twenty degrees in twelve hours. It continued cool, overcast, and drizzly until the llth, when the wind wested, and eight days of warm and very pleasant wea- ther ensued, when the wind again changed to north-east, and a cool, damp spell followed, with occasional rain, until the 25th, when it cleared rather cool, and so continued until the month closed. About three and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1819. The medium temperature of this month was 64 ; it commenced warm and very dry; very little rain having fallen for four weeks, and none fell until the 17th of this month, when, to the joy of thousands, it rained moderately for nearly two days ; and afterwards cleared and continued mild and pleasant until the 25th, when the wind changed to east, and more rain fell, making in all which fell during the month, about three inches. 180 SEPTEMBER. 1820. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and it commenced with a damp easterly wind, and drizzly rain ; but on the 4th the wind wested, and a week of warm and plea- sant weather ensued, when the wind again changed to east, and more rain fell ; and then another week of pleasant weather ensued. Dur- ing the remainder of the month, the weather was very variable, from cool to warm, and from damp to rainy. About four and a half inches of rain fell during the month. 1821. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and it produced her full quota of very fine weather, and some very seasonable showers. On the 20th the wind changed to north-east, and a week of cool, damp and rainy weather followed, after which the wind wested, and the month closed very pleasant. Nearly four inches of rain fell during the month. 1822. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and it commenced and continued very warm and dry until the 18th. During two thunder gusts, a little rain fell. On the 19th the wind changed to north-east, and it was cool, damp and drizzly until the 24th, when the wind changed to south-west, and it was quite warm until the month closed. Dur- ing the month the mercury ran up to 90 four times, and on seven days it varied from 84 to 89. About three inches of rain fell during the month. 1823. The medium temperature of this month was 65 ; and the weather was very fine SEPTEMBER. 181 until the 9th, when the wind changed to east, and it was damp, drizzly, and cool, "until the 14th, when the wind wested, and a week of warm and pleasant weather ensued. On the 22d the wind changed to north-east, and it rained and blew very hard for part of two days. The weather continued unsettled until the 28th, when it cleared cool, and so continued until the month closed. About four and a quarter inches of rain fell during the month. 1824. The medium temperature of this month was 66. It commenced and continued with foggy mornings and warm days until the 6th, when the wind changed to north-west, and it was cool until the 10th, then the wind chan- ged to south-west, and it was quite warm until the 20th, with two seasonable and copious showers, on the 14th and 17th. On the 20th the wind changed to north-east, and it continued cool and damp until the 24th, when the wind changed to south-east, and it rained all night and part of the subsequent day, after which it cleared cool with the wind north-west. About five inches of rain fell during the month. 1825. The medium temperature of this month was 64 ; the 1st and 2d were warm. On the 3d some rain fell, after which the weather was clear, dry and warm, until the 16th, when some rain fell. It was again clear, (but not very warm,) until the 23d, when the wind changed to north-east, and some rain fell, and it continued cloudy and damp until the 26th; then a little more rain fell, making" in all that fell during the month, two and a half inches. 182 SEP T E M B E R. On the 27th it cleared cool, and so continued until the month closed. 1826. The medium temperature of this month was G5 ; it commenced damp and driz- zly. On the 4th it rained part of the day, after which the wind wested, and it was warm and dry until the 18th, when the wind changed to north-east, and it was damp and drizzly for two days, and continued cloudy until the 24th, when a little more rain fell, after which it clear- ed, and so continued until the month closed. Only two inches of rain fell during the whole month. 1827. The medium temperature of this month was 64; and it was a very dry month, but not very warm. Northerly winds prevail- ed very much ; but it occasionally changed to west, south-west, and south, but did not con- tinue long at either of those points at any one time. The only rain that fell during the month was a very little on the 18th and 22d, making in all only one inch. 1828. The medium temperature of this month was 65. It commenced overcast, damp and drizzly, and some rain fell on the 1st, 2d, and 4th ; no more fell until the 28th, making in all that fell during the month, four and a half inches. From the 9th to the 25th, there was much warm, sultry weather. The mercury rose to 90 three days ; and on eleven days it was from 84 to 88. The residue of the month ranged from 76 to 82 at mid-day. There were, however, a few cool nights. SEPTEMBER. 183 1829. The medium temperature of this month was 66 ; and it was quite warm until the 7th, when there was a thunder gust and some rain fell. A little more rain fell on the llth, 16th, and 29th, making in all two inches. There was much warm, dry, sultry weather during the month, and the appearance of show- ers frequently passed both at the north and south of the city, and distant thunder was heard. 1830. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and there was a great uniformi- ty of temperature during the first three weeks, notwithstanding the wind changed several times, and rain fell on the 4th and 9th. The mercury varied from day to day from 82 to 88. On the 22d the wind changed to north- east, and it was much cooler; it continued cloudy and overcast until the 26th, when it rained moderately a great part of the day. During the month three inches of rain fell. 1831. The medium temperature of this month was 68, and it was quite warm until the 5th, when a thunder shower cooled the air for a day or two, but it soon became warm again, and so continued until the 16th; the mercury thus far varying from day to day from 82 to 86. The wind now changed to east, and some rain fell on the 16th and 17th, after which it wested and pleasant days ensued until the 22d, when the wind changed to north-east, and a cold, drizzly, rainy week closed the month; some rain fell on the 23d, 24th, 26th and 184 SEPTEMBER. 27th. The quantity which fell daring the month was five inches. 1832. The medium temperature of this month was 66, and it was a uniformly warm and dry month for September. Rain fell only on the 4th and 12th, making in all one inch and a half. The mercury ran up to 90 twice. Except on those two days it varied but little until past the 20th, when the wind changed to north-east and it was cooler. 1833. The medium temperature of this month was 67. It commenced and continued clear and warm until the 8th, when the wind changed to east, and some rain fell on the 8th, 10th and 12th, when the wind wested, and it was warm and pleasant until the 18th, when another change took place, and some rain fell on the 18th, 19th and 2Jst, making in all that fell during the month four inches. The mer- cury ran up to 90 on three days. The last eight days in the month were pleasant, but not very warm. 1834. The medium temperature of this month was 65, and it commenced with a great drought; only half an inch of rain having fallen for more than four weeks, and the wea- ther was very warm. But during this month there were several small rains, measuring alto- gether three and a half inches. There was much thunder and lightning during this month. 1835. The medium temperature of this month was 66, and it produced its full quan- tum of very pleasant weather. Two thunder SEPTEMBER. 185 showers, and part of a day and night there was steady rain, which was much needed, making in all that fell during the month two and a half inches. 1836. The medium temperature of this month was 67. The weather during this month was very variable. On five days the mercury ranged from 84 to 89 ; on twelve days it was 80 at mid-day ; on seven days it was from 70 to 78 ; on nine days it ranged from 63 to 66 ; on one day it was 58, and one day only 53 at mid-day, and 40 at sunrise. A little rain fell on five days, making in all two inches. The wind was very variable. 1837. The medium temperature of this month was 64. The month was cool, but it produced twenty fair and pleasant days. The mercury rose twice to 84 and once to 80. On thirteen days it could not get up to 70. The remaining days in the month varied from 70 to 76 at mid-day. Some rain fell on eight days, making in all two arid a half inches. 1838. The medium temperature of this month was 67. It commenced warm, with the mercury at 83, but in the evening of the 1st a re-action took place, and by sunrise on the 2d, the mercury had sunk to 57. At sunrise on the 3d it was only 48 ; but on the 5th it rallied, and the mercury ran up to 88 at mid-day, and it continued warm and pleasant until the 12th, when the wind changed from south to north- east, and the mercury sunk to 60, and it rained powerfully for twelve hours to the joy of 186 SEPTEMBER. thousands, as it was very dry and rain was much needed. After this, the weather (with the exception of a few days) continued cool un- til the month closed. The quantity of rain that fell during the month was nine inches. 1839. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and it was a month of very uni- form and delightfully pleasant weather, there having been only four days during the whole month which could be denominated unpleasant. The quantity of rain which fell during the month was only three inches. The past sea- son was one of the most fruitful and pleasant, (in this latitude) which has occurred for many years. There was a brilliant display of north- ern lights during the night of the 3cl. 1840. The medium temperature of this month was 60 ; it was rather cool, but a very pleasant month. There were twenty fine clear days ; eight in which a little rain fell, making in all two and a half inches ; and two days that were cloudy. The whole season was delight ful, producing a healthful and temperate atmos- phere, and very fruitful in every thing. But, " Touch'd by the breath of early frost, The foliage falls away; The loftiest and the fairest leaves Are destin'd to decay ! But like the blush on beauty's cheek, Spread by consumption's breath, The foliage, in its autumn tints, Is loveliest in DEATH !" 1841. The medium temperature of this month was 67. It is very uncommon to have SEPTEMBER. 187 so much mild, easterly weather in September as this month produced. Twenty days in suc- cession the wind was from the eastward, either the whole or a great part of the day, but on no day was it boisterous. The equinoctial storm spent itself before reaching the port of Phila- delphia. A very little rain, however, fell on eight days, making in all two inches. The first six days of the month were nearly as warm as mid-summer, the mercury ranging from 80 to 87. There was a thunder shower, with very vivid lightning on the 2d. The whole month was mild, pleasant and healthful in this lati- tude ; but it was far otherwise in South Caro- lina, Georgia, Alabama, New Orleans, &c., where they were deluged with repeated rain storms, which nearly destroyed the rice crops, &c., and the yellow fever prevailed to an awful degree in New Orleans. A paper from that city of the 17th of this month says, " the inter- ments yesterday were 52, principally by the yellow fever, and there is no diminution of the disease whatever. The mortality is awfully frightful." 1842. The medium temperature of this month was 64, and there were the extremes of autumnal heat and cold. From the 1st to the 14th the mercury varied from 76 to 88. On the 14th the wind changed from south to north- east, and the 17th to north-west, and the cold increased daily until the 23d, when the mer- cury at sunrise had sunk to 36 in this city, and in the country to 32, and ice was an eighth of an inch thick in many places. On the 28th it 188 SEPTEMBER. moderated and the mercury ran up to 76 at mid-day, on the last three days in the month. A very little rain fell on ten days, making in ail only one inch and a quarter. The wind was north-west either the whole or a part of fifteen days. 1843. The medium temperature of this month was 68. It commenced and continued very warm until the 7th. On the 3d and 4th the mercury ran up to 90 at mid-day. On nine days during the month it was from 80 to 87. On eight days from 70 to 78 ; but there were two days in which it did not rise above 58 ; one day it was 60, and three days 66 during mid- day. On the evening of the 25th there was a thunder gust, and much thunder and lightning. Some rain fell on eight days, making in all four and three quarter inches. 1844. The medium temperature of this month was 66, and it was uniformly warm from the 1st to the 22d. On thirteen of those days the mercury was from 80 to 88. On the 22d the wind changed from south to north, and it varied from north to north-east until the month closed, and the mercury varied from 44 to 72. There were twenty entirely clear days during the month. There was a heavy thunder gust in the evening of the 2d, and some rain fell on six days, the whole making four inches. On the 29th and 30th some snow fell in the inte- rior of Pennsylvania and New York, and in the New England states. Late accounts from Africa, state that the weather had been so in- tensely hot and dry, that many persons had SEPTEMBER. 189 perished. Also, the last accounts from St. He- lena states, that no rain had fallen there for fif- teen months, and that great distress prevailed. 1845. The medium temperature of this month was 65. It commenced warm, the first four days varying from 80 to 83. On the 5th the wind changed from south to north-west, and the weather was uniformly mild until the 21st, when the wind changed to north, and the mercury sunk from three o'clock on the 21st to the next morning to 56, and it continued cool until the 28th, when the mercury rose to 70, and on the 29th and 30th to 74. There was a thunder gust on the 2d, and another on the 21st. A little rain fell on nine days, making in all two and a quarter inches. There were eighteen entirely clear days." 1846. The medium temperature of this month was 69 f, and it was more remarkable for heat and drought than any September month we can find on our record since 1804. The medium temperature of that month was 70, and this was 69 1; and there was only one quarter of an inch of rain fell during the whole month, and about the same quantity fell in Sep- tember, 1804. In September, 1846, the mer- cury rose to 90 on two days; to 88 on four days ; to 87 one day ; to 86 on four days ; and on six days it varied from 74 to 80. Twice during the month the wind suddenly changed from south-west to north-east, and the mercury sunk twenty degrees in a few hours. The last account from the state of Maine said, there had scarcely been rain enough there to lay the dust 17 190 SEPTEMBER. for eight weeks, and the weather had been very warm a great part of the time. After the vio- lent north-east gale of the 8th and 9th of this month, accounts were received from the south and the east of many shipwrecks on the coast. Also, of vessels dismasted and otherwise crip- pled, &c. The Great Western steamship, on her passage from Liverpool to New York, came very near being lost. RECORD OF THE WEATHER IN PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE MONTH