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48
below the average during the middle of the month. The mean
daily temperature was 62.5 deg., or 1.6 deg. in excess. The
rainfall was about an average. On the 17th there was a severe
thunder-storm, with a brilliaut display of lightning. September
was cold and unsettled, but the rainfall continued to be
deficient, viz.: to the extent of 0.21 inch, making a total of 1.44
inches less than usual for the quarter; and a total deficiency
of rain for the nine months of 4.5 inches. The mean daily
temperature was only 54.0 deg., or 3.1 deg in defect, presenting
a great contrast to the weather in July and August. In the
months of July and August there was a large number of deaths
from diarrhoea, owing to the hot dry weather. October was
generally fine, but unusually cold, the mean temperature for
the month having been only 45.0 deg., or 5.0 below the average,
and colder than any October since 1817. The rainfall was
deficient to the extent of 1.76 inches; but in November, which was
a cold month, it was in exoess to the extent of 1.44 inches. The
air was dry in spite of the rain, as N.E. winds prevailed, and
the mean temperature was 2.7 deg. in defect. December was
fine but cold; the mean temperature having been 1.8 deg. below
the average, and the rainfall 0.52 inch deficient, with S.W.
and W. winds.
The Greenwich returns, published by the Registrar
General, show that the mean temperature was below the average
in the first quarter of the year to the extent of 2.6 deg.; the
second quarter of 1.2 deg.; and the fourth, of no less than 32
deg.; but the third had an excess of 0.8 deg., giving a mean
for the year of 44.6 deg., or 14 deg. below the mean. The
atmospheric pressure, as shewn by the 'barometer, was 0.070
inch in excess of the mean for the year, having been above the
average in the first three quarters, and below it in the fourlh.
Tho total rainfall at Greenwich for the year was only 1986
inches, having been no less than 5.36 inches below the average of
the previous 72 years. It was deficient in each quarter, and
especially in the first three months, taken as a whole.