both continents. We cannot avoid remarking in this place, that the extremes of temperature are much more decisive of the contrasts of climate than are the mean terms; and, farther, that in a great majority of instances, extremes, being phenomena out of the ordinary course, are by far more correctly observed, than are the more common changes.

It has already been shown, in this article, that the results in Dr Lovell's Register, were too high, yet, the following, from these otherwise valuable tables, show the excessive extremes of temperature observed in the United States.

It was our intention to have given a general table of the monthly mean temperature, but such are the inequalities of the same month in different years as to render generalisation on the subject very unsatisfactory. So unlike indeed are the years both as to extremes of temperature, and moisture, that to reach any decided conclusion demands a mean of a long cycle. The last three years have for so short a period, afforded very wide extremes, therefore we present the following comparative tables of the

seasons.

TABLE XXXII.

Calculated comparatively.
Ice frequent, and snow occasionally.

The writer of this has seen ice nearly an inch thick at New Orleans; snow occasionally; and more or less frost nearly every winter.

Similar to New Orleans, except colder and more snow.

Too high, no doubt. I have seen very severe frost at the mouth of Sabine, at 29° 18′ N.

winter solstice 1829, to vernal equinox 1830,

Spring of 1830.-Mean temp. from vernal equinox, to summer solstice 1830, Summer of 1830.-Mean temp. from summer solstice, to autumnal equinox 1830, Autumn of 1830.-Mean temp. from autumnal equinox, to winter solstice 1830, Winter of 1830-31.-Mean temp. from winter solstice 1830, to vernal equinox 1831,

Spring of 1831.-Mean temp. from vernal equinox, to summer solstice 1831, Summer of 1831.-Mean temp. from summer solstice, to autumnal equinox 1831,

tumnal equinox, to winter solstice 1831, Mean of the above 12 seasons,

35.63

58.14

71.46

49.23

29.88

59.64

69.95

41.81

51.63

Combining this mean with that produced by observations made monthly during the same period on perennial springs, the mean temperature at Sandy Spring comes out 52.776° or 524° Fahren

heit.

The following table compiled from Malte Brun will show, as far as the respective elements are correct, the contrast between the seasons of the United States and Europe.

3 B*

Seasons.

Spring, Summer,

Autumn,

Winter,

Mean.

Lon

Ge

Paler

44.44

45.35 46.81

4850 50.52 49.62 47.71

50.83

59.44 61.67

There will be found discrepancies between this table and others in the head of Climate, but not of such magnitude as to defeat the object of the tables, which was to give a comparative view of the climates of Europe and North America. It will be seen by inspection of tables XXXII. and XXXIII., that, as has been already observed, the difference of mean temperature decreases on Europe, leaving the western coast and advancing to the interior table lands, and the following table exhibits similar phenomena as respects extreme cold.

TABLE XXXIV.

Extreme cold in Europe.

From Malte Brun, Vol. VI. page 62-68, Fahr. Ther.

North-eastern part of Europe, beyond the Onega river.-Mercury is often malleable at Usting--Welecki. Rivers frozen from November to April, inclusive. Agriculture ceases about N. Lat. 60°.

Pine trees cease at 61 or 62°.

Between the Gulf of Bothnia and White

Sea. Greatest cold at St Petersburg, -12.10° Rye, barley, and wheat cultivated. The latter frequently ripens in Finland at 60°. Lapland. Mean temperature of summer at Cape North, Lat. 72°, 43°, and at Enontikies, Lat. 69°

54.8°.

Pine and Fir to Lat. 66°; oaks to 60°. Grain every where cultivated. Central table land of Russia, or the Valday region. Mercury was malleable the 3d of February 1803, at Saratov, on the Wolga, N. Lat. 534°. Wolga and other rivers frozen from the month of December to April inclusive. Apple and pear trees to N. Lat. 55°. Lower Wolga, or northern Caspian region. At Astrachan, N. Lat. 464°, highest temperature, 96.8°, and lowest, North side of Black Sea.-Lowest temperature at Odessa, and vicinity, N. Lat. 46°. Poland and Eastern Germany. -Lowest

-10.40

-22.00

-10.66

-23.80

Franeker in Friesland, near the German
Sea, N. Lat. 53° 11',

Berlin on the Spree, northern great plain
of Germany,
Copenhagen,

Either to the southward of the great chains of the Pyrenees, Alps, and Hæmus, or to the westward of the German Ocean, does the scale of Fahrenheit, except on mountains, or at extraordinary times, indicate a cold as low as zero. But the north-western part of Europe is subject. to great and rapid changes of temp. See Art. ENGLAND, in this Encyclopædia. Bourdeaux, coldest month,

Nantes, coldest month,

Clermont, near the centre of France, cold

Some may deem us too minute in the selection of comparative element, but those who reflect on the erroneous opinions prevalent on the real and comparative climate of the United States, will not blame a condensation of evidence.

It may be well to state the manner in which our own element was collected. A good Fahrenheit was suspended on small iron wire, in a recess facing the north-west, and defended from the local influences of the dwelling-house, or the radiated heat of the sun. This instrument, in perhaps ninety days in an hundred, was examined in the morning as soon as the light was sufficient, and the degree indicated put on record. At, or after mid-day, the highest degree was recorded; and finally at nine or ten at night. These three observations entered in a tabular manner enabled the observer to enter a mean. The state of the weather was each day carefully recorded.

The observer, the writer of this article, from the 6th day of November 1828 to the moment of writing, January 1832, with the exception of about fifteen days, made every entry from his own observations.

The prevailing wind was also carefully observed

and recorded.

Four very fine perennial fountains were chosen, and their temperature taken at intervals of 30 days nearly. On this latter mode of ascertaining mean temperature we have to observe, that if done with

adequate attention, and once or twice monthly during one or more years, a very satisfactory mean may be produced. Observations of this kind, similar to all other experiments accurately made, have a tendency to remove popular error; as may be seen by reference to article METEOROLOGY, Vol. XIII., page 173, 174 of this Encyclopædia.

The observations there made on the great changes of temperature in the water of wells and fountains accord with the results obtained in the same manner at Sandy Spring.

Oct. Nov. Dec.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

One primary object in inserting this table, is to call the attention of observers to this elegant and easy mode of determining the mean temperature of the earth; which will in a period of a few years correspond remarkably with the mean of the air found by the thermometer. By reference to the head of climate in the article METEOROLOGY, the method by the water is preferred by the writer. Professor Lesley has thrown some discredit on such observations, by ascribing more to its results than they are calculated to produce; but in judicious hands they afford much the least expensive mode of determining the mean temperature.

In the American Almanac for 1832, page 85, are two expressions which our element and that under the head of Meteorology are far from supporting. "At the depth of eighty or a hundred feet, the most sensible thermometer will hardly exhibit any change throughout the year."-" The question has been much discussed, whether the winters in the temperate latitudes have become milder or not. There is abundant evidence, it seems to us, in favour of the alleged change.'

In the same valuable manual, page 86, it is again suggested, that "the change, whatever it be, seems to belong to the autumn and early part of winter. The spring, we are inclined to believe, is even more cold and backward than it used to be."

The writer of the article UNITED STATES has long considered the idea of the supposed change illusory, and increasing document from actual observation demonstrates its impossibility, unless it was preceded and produced by a change in that order of nature which has prevailed coeval, and no doubt long anterior to all human observation. In fact, the best evidence proves that the destruction

of forests, widens the extremes, but leaves the mean term nearly what it would be from like position or difference of position. The popular error of a supposed melioration has prevailed on both sides of the Atlantic, and is about as well and no better supported by real observation, than the other popular error, that the valley of Ohio was warmer in winter than it was on like latitudes on the Atlantic coast. The tables in this article will place the latter theory on its proper basis. In the article ScoTLAND, there are both observation and induction, rationally speaking, to place the alleged meteorological revolution of western Europe in its true light. "There seems to be little doubt that the climate of Scotland was considerably MILDER in ancient times, than it is at present (1825); and indeed this appears too true of all the WESTERN KINGDOMS OF EUROPE."

The present winter, 1831-32, has afforded meteorological phenomena of incalculable importance on this subject. To place the early and severe cold of this winter on record, and enable the reader to compare the results with his own or the observations of others, we insert the following comparative table; premising that two of the observers are professional men, Drs. Howard and Palmer, therefore could not be expected to have it in their power to record regularly, as a person who made meteorological observations part of his business. Edward Stabler is an intelligent farmer, who merely placed the extremes on record. The four thermometers yield, by taking the days when an observation was made by each, which was the case on 34 days between Nov. 23d and Dec. 31st inclusive; Dr. Howard's* 17°; Dr. Palmer's* 17.35°; Edward Stabler's 17. 1°, and William Darby's 17.09°.

Mr.