REMARKS.

Fifth Month.-1. Dew this morning: a very fine day: lightning at night far in the S. 2. Dew, with rudiments of thunder clouds, which in increasing became very beautiful: a storm was within hearing the whole mid-day, to S. and S. W.: p.m. a heavy shower mixed with large hail, followed by lightning in the S. E. 3. A strong breeze: thunder clouds, which dispersed in the evening. 4. Cumulostratus: some showers, followed by Cirrostratus. 5. Much dew: clear morning, succeeded by Cumulus, &c.: thunder to the S.: a shower in the evening. 6. Dew in large drops: somewhat misty and overcast: a shower in the night. 7. Windy: dripping at eve. 9. Cumulostratus: a few drops by inosculation at sun-set: rain in the night. 10. Windy driving clouds. 11. Dew: windy, a. m. at S. E. with, large Cirri, and below them Cirrocumulus, variable and beautiful: p. m. the Cumulus was added, with Cirrostratus in the region of its base: at sun-set a storm in S. W., which about nine passed us to N. E: the lightning in violet coloured sheets, with delicate white branched streaks on them: the thunder moderate, rolling out to a great length. 12. Much wind: slight showers, a. m. : clouds and haze at sun-set. 13. Wind and rain: at half-past six p.m., during a heavy shower which passed to the E., there was a perfect double rainbow, on which I repeated an observation already recorded in this register, under Fifth Month, 4, 1813. The contrast of the space, included between the two bows, with the tint of the remainder of the cloud, was on the present occasion very striking. 14. Fair and warm: a shower, p. m. with a bow: Cirrostratus. 15. Hollow wind at S. with an overcast sky: wet evening. 16. Cumulostratus: wind, p.m. N. W. a milky luminous twilight: much dew. 17. Somewhat misty morning: p.m. Cirrostrati advancing from the N. overspread the sky, without any other cloud. 18. a. m. Windy at N., and overcast with Cumulostratus: clear and calm, p. m.: red sun-set. 19. A very fine day: the twilight luminous, and somewhat ruby-coloured, followed by Cirrostratus. 20. Windy: various clouds: the sky purplish round the moon at night. 21. a. m. Brisk N. W. wind: showers. 23. Showers. 28. A brisk wind at S. E.: Cirrus, followed by Cirrostratus: Nimbi in the S. at sun-set: rain by ten at night. 29. Some thunder: rainy afternoon.

RESULTS.

Winds Westerly, with a small portion of Easterly at the beginning and end of the

From the 6th to the 22d inclusive, I made observations on the temperature with an additional Six's thermometer, placed in a position nearly horizontal exposed to the sun on a grass plat, 20 yards distant from the standard one (which is near the house), and about ten feet lower than the latter. This second thermometer indicated, with two exceptious, a higher temperature for the day; the difference in one case being 10o, and the mean difference 4o; it indicated, uniformly, a lower temperature for the night, the greatest difference being 60°, the mean difference 4.90 but the total mean of the observations differed, as 1 anticipated, very little, the upper thermometer giving 57.5°, the lower 57.10.

TOTTENHAM, Sixth Month, 7, 1815.

L. HOWARD,

ANNALS

OF

PHILOSOPHY.

AUGUST, 1815.

ARTICLE I.

Some Account of the late Smithson Tennant, Esq.

(Continued from p. 11.)

THAT desire of visiting remote countries, of viewing the productions of Nature in more favoured climates, and of observing the practical effects of different systems of laws and government, which is common to every man of talents and curiosity, was felt with peculiar force by Mr. Tennant, and may be considered as one of his ruling passions. He was therefore much disposed, after he had relinquished the intention of medical practice, to indulge this inclination, and to travel in those parts of Europe which he had not already visited. But the war with France opposed many obstacles to continental excursions; and the uncommon sufferings which he experienced from sea sickness, deterred him from forming any project in which a sea voyage of any considerable length was to be undertaken. He often regretted that this unfortunate peculiarity of his constitution prevented him from seeing the United States of America; and he abandoned, but with considerable reluctance, those schemes of travelling in distant countries, to which, at this particular period of his life, he would otherwise have been strongly inclined.

But although he was thus prevented from indulging in a favourite taste, his situation at this period was in many respects one of the most enviable in which a man of science could be placed. He was independent in his circumstances; and being free from all professional avocations, enjoyed the entire command of his own time. His residence in the metropolis gave him easy access whatever was new and valuable in science and literature, as well as the means VOL. VI. N° II.

F

of constant intercourse with several of his most intimate friends, who were more or less interested in his own particular pursuits, and with whom he could freely communicate relative to the various subjects upon which he was continually employed. His philosophical reputation was established; his talents were fully acknowledged; and he was beginning to be known and valued in a distinguished circle of society for the extent and originality of his knowledge, and his extraordinary powers of entertainment and information.

Something, however, was still wanting to his happiness; for though his time was agreeably and usefully filled up, he was without any regular occupation or definitive object of pursuit; and his studies, however interesting, were too desultory to fix his attention, or take a sufficiently permanent hold on his thoughts. The composition of some literary or scientific work (of which at different periods of his life he had several vague and floating projects) would have been the natural resource and occupation of such a mind. But although Mr. Tennant was capable of great efforts on a sudden emergency or for a particular purpose, he had his full share of that indecision, and fastidiousness of taste which belong to the temperament of genius; and which seldom fail, unless counteracted by early habits of self controul, to disqualify the possessor for those long continued, and persevering exertions, so indispensable to great literary undertakings. This defect of resolution, originating in part from his extraordinary powers, was lamented by all his particular friends, but by no one more feelingly than by Mr. Tennant himself. It increased with his increasing years; and the evil was now aggravated by an unfortunate alteration in the state of his health, which was beginning gradually to decline, and to require continual attention.

It was owing principally to these causes that, within a very few years after he had relinquished the study of medicine, he became insensibly disposed to some new occupation; and one of those accidents upon which the fortunes of human life depend, determined him to engage in agricultural pursuits. He had for some time been accustomed to take long journies for the sake of his health; during one of which he happened to pay a visit to a friend in Lincolnshire, who had been much connected with his family, but with whom he was not in habits of regular intercourse. This was about the year 1797, at an early period of those great advances in agriculture, since become very general, by which that part of the kingdom has been so much distinguished. His friend's residence was in an extensive tract of country, very favourable for such improvements, adjoining to the river Trent, and known by the name of the Isle of Axholme, where very considerable enclosures had lately taken place. A great spirit of enterprize had, in consequence, been excited; and the cultivation of new land (principally by the growth of rape seed) was carried on to a great extent, and with extraordinary vigour and success. There was nothing in the previous habits of Mr. Tennant's life which had particularly led him to the study or practice of agri

culture; but the sight of these great improvements afforded much gratification to his feelings, and was highly interesting to his curiosity. His attention was very naturally directed to the system of cultivation itself; and the knowledge and experience of his Lincolnshire friend, who had himself practised the new husbandry with great intelligence and success, afforded him the best means of information relative to the whole of this subject. Under the influence of his example and advice, and after having satisfied himself that the speculation afforded a reasonable prospect of advantage, Mr. Tennant shortly afterwards purchased several allotments of unenclosed land in that neighbourhood, and began to cultivate them on his own account, entrusting the chief management of the concern to the skill and judgment of his friend. At subsequent periods he purchased other allotments, and made considerable additions to this property.

From the time of making his first purchase in Lincolnshire, Mr. Tennant paid great attention to the study of rural economy; and his attachment to this new pursuit gradually increasing, he became desirous of engaging in some agricultural concern upon a more extensive scale. It was with this intention that about the year 1798 or 1799 he purchased a considerable tract of waste land, newly allotted under an Enclosure Act, on the Mendip hills in Somersetshire. The purchase was originally made in conjunction with a particular friend, who for some time resided on the spot, and personally superintended the concern. But a partition of the estate afterwards taking place, a portion of land was assigned to Mr. Tennant, situated near the well-known village of Cheddar, which was retained by him in his own hands, and became the principal scene of his farming operations. Here he built a small house, at which, during the remainder of his life, he passed some months every summer, besides occasional visits at other times of the year.

London, however, still continued to be the principal place of his residence; since his passion for agriculture, however strong, had in no respect diminished his bigh relish for the pleasures of cultivated society, and for the interesting objects continually afforded by the metropolis. It must be obvious, however, that these latter tastes must have interfered very considerably with the due management of his farming concerns. Such undertakings, in order to be profitable, require for the most part strict personal inspection, and a constant attention to minute details. This sort of vigilance it was impossible for Mr. Tennant to exert; but he kept up a constant correspondence with his agents in the country, receiving from them such information, and transmitting such instructions, as could be communicated by letters. For a certain period (as it was reasonable to expect), owing partly to his own inexperience, and partly to unfavourable seasons, and other accidents, his speculations were not prosperous; and he occasionally suffered some anxiety and disappointment. But in process of time he acquired more practice and information, and became insensibly habituated to many trifling

vexations, which at first had given him uneasiness. The prospect gradually brightened; and during the latter part of his life his concerns were brought into better order, and appear to have been attended with a reasonable degree of success.

But whether these agricultural undertakings were profitable or not, they doubtless contributed in several important respects to his comfort and happiness. They were conducive to his health, by affording additional motives for exercise in the open air, and for those long journies on horseback which his constitution required, and which were thus rendered less irksome. They furnished his mind with a perpetual supply of that steady, equable occupation, which forms so essential an ingredient in human happiness, but which possibly he would not have provided for himself from any other source. What was scarcely less important, these pursuits were the accidental occasion of his reviving a connection with one of his early friends, formed originally at Cambridge, but which distance of place and other circumstances had interrupted for many years. The intercourse between them was renewed soon after Mr. Tennant became established at the Somersetshire farm, which was not far from his friend's residence; and it was productive of great happiness to both parties. Mr. Tennant found in his friend's family those congenial tastes and opinions, which form the strongest bond of union; and during the remainder of his life he invariably experienced from them all that affectionate regard, which the greatest personal esteem, united with a sincere admiration of his talents, could inspire. With these friends, whenever he had leisure and inclination, he found a constant home; and it is highly probable that some of his happiest hours were passed in their hospitable mansion.

The change in his habits, occasioned by his agricultural engagements, was not equally favourable to his scientific pursuits. His spirits were often exhausted, and his mind fatigued and oppressed, by the attention which he thought it necessary to bestow upon the correspondence with his agents, the examination of his farming accounts, and other details equally tedious and minute; and it is impossible to reflect upon the time thus consumed, without lamenting that it was not employed for purposes more beneficial to mankind, and more worthy of his genius and understanding.

It appears, however, from various notes and memoranda which are found among his papers, that from the time when he first became engaged in agricultural pursuits, he was very industrious in procuring information from the best works upon farming, and that he made various practical remarks during his journies, and collected many accurate and circumstantial details relative to the modes of cultivation adopted in different parts of England. In the course of these inquiries, he had discovered that there were two kinds of limestone known in the midland counties of England, one of which differed from common lime-stone in yielding a lime injurious to vegetation. He explained the cause of this difference in a paper.