Volume 1

The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard.

  • Howard, Luke, 1772-1864.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    question above mentioned, as well as for throwing, possibly, some light on the second ; which, however, is one of too great difficulty to be treated with much success, except by combined and exten¬ sive observations. Having adopted, at the commencement, a period beginning at the new moon, the first three years will be found thus arranged. From the elose of the year 1809, however, I preferred the Last quarter; as by setting out from this, the Phases of New and Full moon appear in the midst of their respective moieties of the ob¬ servations. One other circumstance I may here notice. I have prefixed to the Calendar names of the months their numerical designations, and where I write myself, 1 use these in preference. This is the phraseology of the Society of Friends to which I belong, and is from principle, as well as education, a part of my form of Chris¬ tianity. The Reader, who may not approve of this peculiarity, will therefore be pleased to tolerate it ; which he will do the more willingly, on finding that it interferes but little with his conveni¬ ence in reference. The following is the method I use in noting my observations. About nine in the morning, I make the round of the Instruments (the situation of each of these will be noticed, in treating of it in its place); 1 find it the securest way to do this with the slate and pencil in hand. The direction of the Wind, for the past twenty- four hours, usually from memory but with due reference to the present posture of the Vane, is noted for the first column. The actual place of the quicksilver in the barometer, with the place it has moved from, as indicated by the hand index, are put down for the second and third columns ; and in the fourth and fifth the situation of the two indexes of the thermometer, which are then adjusted with the magnet. The amount of rain is ascer¬ tained and noted for the seventh column. The actual place of the index of De Luc’s hygrometer occupies the sixth column— but always a day in advance of the other observations : all of which, as relating to the past twenty-four hours, come under the