Travels into North America, Volume 2 (of 3)

ADVERTISEMENT.

In the first column of these tables, the Reader will find the days of the month; in the second, the time or hour of the day, when the observations were made; in the third, the rising and falling of the thermometer; in the fourth, the wind; and in the fifth, the weather in general, such as rainy, fair, cloudy, &c.

The thermometer which I have made use of is that of Mr. Celsius, or the Swedish thermometer so called, as I have already pointed out in the preface. To distinguish the degrees above freezing-point from those below it, I have expressed the freezing-point itself by 00, and prefixed 0 to every [319]degree below it. The numbers therefore which have no 0 before them, signify the upper degrees. Some examples will make this still more intelligible. On the 17th of December it is remarked, that the thermometer, at eight o’clock in the morning, was at 02.5. It was therefore at 2 degrees and 5⁄10, or half a degree, below the freezing-point; but at two in the afternoon, it was at 00.0, or exactly upon the freezing-point. If it had been 00.3, it would have signified that the thermometer was fallen 3⁄10 of a degree below the freezing-point; but 0.3 would signify, that it was risen 3⁄10 of a degree above the freezing-point. Thus likewise 03.0. is three degrees below the freezing-point; and 4.0. four degrees above it.

The numbers in the columns of the winds signify as follows: 0, is a calm; 1, a gentle breeze; 2, a fresh gale; 3, a strong gale; and 4, a violent storm or hurricane. When, in some of the last tables, the winds are only marked once a day, it signifies that they have not changed that day. Thus, on the 21st of December, stands N. 0 fair. This shews that the weather-cocks have turned to the north all day; but that no wind has been felt, and the sky has been clear all the day long. [320]

Before I went to Canada in summer 1749, I desired Mr. John Bartram to make some meteorological observations in Pensylvania, during my absence, in order to ascertain the summer-heat of that province. For that purpose, I left him a thermometer, and instructed him in the proper use of it; and he was so kind as to write down his observations at his farm, about four English miles to the south of Philadelphia. He is very excusable for not putting down the hour, the degree of wind, &c. for being employed in business of greater consequence, that of cultivating his grounds, he could not allow much time for this. What he has done, is however sufficient to give an idea of the Pensylvanian summer. [321]

August 1748.

D.	H.	Ther.	Wind.	The Weather in general.
1	5 m	20.0	E S E 2	Fair
	2 a	24.5	E 2
2	5 m	22.0	E 2
	2 a	24.5	E 2
3	5 m	22.0	E 1
	2 a	25.5	S S W 1	Cloudy with some rain.
4	5 m	22.0	S 1	Alternately fair, cloudy and rainy all day.
	1 a	21.0	S 1	Alternately fair, cloudy and rainy all day.
5	5 m	17.0	S S W 1	Chiefly rainy.
6	7 m	17.0	S 2	Cloudy.
	2 a	19.0	S 2	Somewhat cloudy, but chiefly fair.
7	5 m	15.5	S S W 2	Alternately fair and cloudy.
8	5 m	18.0	S S W 0	Fair all day.
	3 a	19.0	S S W 0
9	6 m	17.5	W N W 0
	4 a	21.0	W N W 1
10	6 m	18.5	E 1	Fair.
	3 a	20.5	E 1
11	6 m	47.0	E N E 1	Somewhat cloudy.
	½ a	18.5	S W 1	Fair.
	4	22.0	S W 1
	6	22.0	W 3
12	6 m	16.0	N W 1	Cloudy with some drizzl. rain at ten.
	4 a	19.0	N W 1	Cloudy, fair, some drizzl. rain altern.
13	6 m	17.0	W N W 2	Cloudy with some rain; foggy, sometimes fair.
	2 a	18.5	W N W 2	Cloudy with some rain; foggy, sometimes fair.
14	5 m	18.0	W S W 0	Somewhat cloudy, fair from 11 m. to 3 a.
	4 a	20.0	W S W 0	Cloudy
15	5 m	18.0	W S W 0	Cloudy; sometimes fair; at ten o’clock fell a thin fog.
	2 a	19.5	N E 2	Cloudy; sometimes fair; at ten o’clock fell a thin fog.
16	6 m	18.3	N N E 2	Somewhat cloudy; sometime fair.
	2 a	18.5		Dark; rainy at night.
17	6 m	18.5	E N E 2	Dark, with some drizzling rain.
	2 a	19.5		Drizzling rain all the afternoon.
18	6 m	19.0	E 2	Drizzling rain all the day.
	2 a	20.5
19	6 m	19.5		Cloudy
	2 a	20.0		Scattered clouds.[322]
20	6 m	19.5		Fair.
	2 a	21.5		Scattered clouds: sometimes rain.
21	6 m	20.8	E 1	Somewhat cloudy, fair at nine
	2 a	21.3		Thin clouds.
22	5 m	21.0		Fair; about twelve it became cloudy.
	1 a	23.5	E S E 1	Cloudy.
23	5 m	22.2		Scattered clouds.
	7		S E 2
	2 a	24.2		Scattered clouds, dark towards eve.
24	5 m	23.5	W S W 2	Violent rain.
	6		W 2
	7		W N W 1	About seven it cleared up.
	9		N W 1
	2 a			Scattered clouds.
25	6 m	24.5	W 1	Scattered clouds.
	10		W N W 3
	2 a	23.5
26	6 m	24.0	W 2	Fair. At night a great halo appeared round the sun.
	2 a	24.5	S W 2	Dark. A strong redness at sun-setting.
			W S W 1	Cloudy. At ten it began to rain, and it rained all day.
27	6 m	24.5	S E 2	Cloudy. At ten it began to rain, and it rained all day.
	11		E 3
	1 a		N E 4	Rain.
	4	21.5	N 1	Scattered clouds.
28	7 m	23.0
	2 a	23.5	S W 1
29	6 m		S W 3	Towards evening drizzl. rain and lightning.
	2 a	25.5	N W 2	Scattered clouds; air very cool.
30	6 m	23.5
	2 a	21.5	S W 1	Fair: in the morning it began to grow cloudy; at night lightning, hard rain, and some thunder.
31	6 m	22.2

[323]

September 1748.

D.	H.	Ther.	Wind.	The Weather in general.
1	7 m	20.0	N W 2	Scattered clouds.
	2 a	21.5		Clouds passing by. Rain and strong winds all the afternoon.
2	6 m	19.0	N W 1	Scattered clouds all day.
	2 a	20.5	N W 0	At night a great halo round the moon.
3	6 m	21.5	W S W 0	Scattered clouds.
	2 a	23.0	S 1	It became more cloudy. In the evening appeared a great halo round the sun.
4	6 m	23.3	E 1	Scattered clouds.
	12 n	27.5	E S E 1
	2 a	24.0
5	6 m	24.5	S E 3	Scattered clouds.
	12 n	26.5
6	6 m	27.0	S E 2	Scattered clouds,
	1 a	28.5		At night a great halo round the moon, and the sky very red.
7	6 m	27.5	E 3	Dark sometimes. The sun shone through the clouds.
8	12 n	28.5	N E 2	Scattered clouds.
8	6 m	26.0	N N E 2	Scattered clouds all day.
	1 a	26.5
9	6 m	24.5	N 1	Scattered clouds all day.
	1 a	24.5
10	5 m	24.0	N N W 1	Fair.
	1 a	24.5
11	6 m	23.2	W N W 1	Fair.
	2 a	25.0		At night a halo round the moon.
12	6 m	24.0	A Calm.	Fair, and very hot.
	½ a	26.0
13	5 m	25.5	S E 1	Fair.
	1 a	26.5
14	6 m	25.5	S E 1	Fair; but a cool wind all the morning.
	1 a	26.5
15	5 m	23.0	S E 1	Scattered clouds.
	1 a	27.5		It grew more cloudy. In the evening and ensuing night, violent rain and winds.
16	5 m	21.5	N N E 1	It rained hard all day.
	2 a	21.5		[324]
17	5 m	25.5	N W 1	Cloudy.
	1 a	21.0		Scattered clouds.
18	6 m	13.0	Calm.	Fair.
19	1 a	24.5	N N E 1	Fair all day.
20	6 m	14.0	N E 1	Scattered clouds.
21	6 m	11.0	N E 0	Scattered clouds.
	1 a	23.0
22	7 m	10.5	N E 1	Fair.
	1 a	25.0
23	6 m	11.0	N N E 1	Fair.
	2 a	28.0
24	6 m	14.0	N E 1	Fair.
	2 a	28.0		It grew dark. At night came rain, which continued late.
25	6 m	18.0	N W 1	Dark. At 8, scattered clouds.
	2 a	28.0	N E 1	Scattered clouds.
26	6 m	15.5	N N E 1	Fair.
	2 a	27.5
27	6 m	17.0	N E 1	Cloudy. Fair at 8, and all the morning.
	2 a	27.0		Cloudy.
28	6 m	14.0	N E 1	Fair and cloudy alternately.
	2 a	20.0
29	7 m	15.5	N E 1	Cloudy.
	2 a	20.5		Fine drizzling rain.
30	7 m	16.0	N E 0	Alternately fair and cloudy.

[325]

October 1748.

D.	H.	Ther.	Wind.	The Weather in general.
1	6 m	19.0	S 1	Fair. Scattered clouds at 8.
	2 a	18.5		Scattered clouds. Dark towards night.
2	6 m	18.5	S W 0	Cloudy.
3	6 m	15.0	N W 1	Cloudy.
	1 a	18.0		Scattered clouds. Late at night a great halo round the moon.
4	7 m	6.0	N W 1	Fair.
	1 a	16.0
5	7 m	2.0	N 1	Fair.
6	7 m	2.0	N E 1	Fair.
	1 a	18.0		At night a great halo round the moon.
7	6 m	7.0	E N E 1	Cloudy. Fair at 9, and all day.
8	6 m	14.0	E N E 1	Cloudy. Scattered clouds at 8.
9	6 m	18.0	S S E 1	Rain all the morning.
	3 a	23.0		Cloudy.
10	6 m	20.0	S W 0	Fog, and a drizzling rain.
	2 a	23.0		Fair.
11	7 m	20.0	S W 1	Fog, which fell down. Fair at 8.
	2 a	26.0		Fair.
12	6 m	8.0	W N W 1	Fair all day.
	8		W 1
	2 a	20.0	W S W 1
13	6 m	2.0	W N W 1	In the morning, hoary frost on the plants.
	2 a	17.0	W S W 0	Fair all day.
14	6 m	5.0	S S W 0	Fair.
	2 a	21.0
15	6 m	4.5	S S E 0	Fair.
	2 a	24.0
16	6 m	11.0	E N E 0	Cloudy.
17	6 m	8.0	N E 1	Cloudy.
	2 a	18.0		Cloudy. Violent rain all night.
18	6 m	12.0	N W 0	Cloudy.
	5 a	4.0	S W 0
19	6 m	00.0	W S W 1	Scattered clouds.
	2 a	9.0
20	5 m	01.0	W N W 1	Fair.
	2 a	9.0
21	7 m	00.0	W 0	In the morning ice on standing water, white hoary frost on the ground; fair all day.
	1 a	15.0	[326]
22	6 m	00.0	W 0	Fair.
23	6 m	4.5	N N E 1	Fair.
	1 a	16.0
24	6 m	4.5	N 0	Fair.
	2 a	18.0
25	6 m	4.5	S W 1	Fair. Air very much condensed in the afternoon.
26	6 m	4.0	S W 0	Fair.
	3 a	19.0
27	6 m	1.0	S W 0	Fair.
	3 a	17.0
28	6 m	9.0	E 2	Heavy rain all day.
29	6 m	14.0	W 1	Fair.
	1 a	20.0		At night I saw a meteor, commonly called the shooting of a star, going far from N. W. to S. E.
30	6 m	3.0	N W 1	Fair.
31	7 m	4.0	W 1	Fair.
	1 a	18.0

[327]

November 1748.

D.	H.	Ther.	Wind.	The Weather in general.
1	7 m	3.0	S 1	Fair.
2	6 m	4.0	N 0	Fair.
	3 a	18.0
3	7 m	7.0	N W 1	Fair.
	1 a	14.0	S E 0
4	7 m	1.0	S W 0	In the morning the fields were covered with white frost.
	12 n	19.0		A fair day.
5	7 m	4.0	S W 1	Fair.
	1 a	17.0
6	7 m	4.5	N E 1	Fair.
	1 a	12.0		Towards evening somewhat cloudy.
7	7 m	7.0	E N E 1	Cloudy.
	4 a	11.5
8	7 m	11.5	E N E 2	Drizzling rain.
	½ a	18.0	E S E 3	Heavy rain.
9	7 m	17.0	S E 1	Drizzling rain.
	9 m	15.0	S S W 1	At eight it cleared up.
	1 a	17.0		Scattered clouds.
10	7 m	6.0	S S W 2	Fair.
	½ a	13.0	W N W 2
11	7 m	4.0	W S W 1	Cloudy.
	½ a	12.0		Scattered clouds.
12	6 m	03.0	S W 1	Fair.
	2 a	11.5	N W 2	Cloudy.
	4	5.0
13	7 m	00.0	N N E 1	This morning ice on the water.
	2 a	5.5		Fair.
14	7 m	0.5	N 3	Fair.
	1 a	8.0	N 2
15	7 m	3.0	S 2	A strong red aurora.
	1 a	8.0		Cloudy, and continual drizzling rain.
16	7 m	4.5	W 1	Fair.
17	7 m	01.0	W 1	Fair and cloudy alternately.
	1 a	8.0		Sometimes drizzling rain.
18	7 m	4.0	S 1	Fair.
	3 a	6.5	N W 2
19	7 m	03.0	W 0	Fair.
	2 a	11.5		[328]
20	7 m	01.0	N N E 1	Fair.
	2 a		S 1
21	7 m	15.0	S W 2	Fair.
	1 a	19.0
22	7 m	20.0	E 1	Rain all day.
	2 a	10.0
23	8 m	16.0	S 1	Cloudy, foggy, and rain now and then.
	8 a		S W 4	Cloudy, foggy, and rain now and then.
24	7 m	00.0	W N W 3	Fair.
25	7 m		N W 0	It was very cold last night, and fair to-day.
26			N W 0	Alternately fair and somewhat cloudy, and always pretty cold.

27				Fair; scattered clouds: pretty warm in the air.

28				Cloudy, foggy, and quite calm.
29				Somewhat cloudy.
30			N 1	Fair, and a little cold.

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