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16
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
and is distinguished by being one of the warmest on record. The mean temperature of the
quarter was 4q6. The weather in February, and March, was dry and mild. The degree
of humidity was less than its average in January and March, and nearly of its average
value in February. The pressure of the atmosphere was in defect in January and March,
and in excess in February. Fog prevailed on 51 days. The rain fall was 39 inches.
The Temperature of the spring quarter, was with the exception of a few days, an
average of two degrees in excess daily from the beginning of April, until the middle of
May. This was followed by nine days of a deficiency of six degrees; and succeeded by one
of like duration, but of an opposite character, the average daily excess being 3°¼. There
was a deficiency from the 5th June, to the end of the quarter. The temperature for the
five months ending April of the year, was as high as any on record. The days and nights,
in April were warm; and the nights in May; whilst the days of June were cold. The
mean temperature for the quarter was 53°0. The degree of humidity differed little from
its monthly average value in any of the months. Fog prevailed on 38 days. Bain fell to
the amount of 5°6 inches.
The weather of the quarter of July, August, and September, was characterised by its
changeableness, heat and cold alternating. There were two warm, and two cold periods.
The temperature of the air for the first half of July, was in excess, a cold period then commenced,
and which continued until the end of the month; this was again followed by an
increase of temperature, lasting until the middle of August, when it fell. "From the 17th
August to the end of September, a period of 45 days, the daily deficiency amounted to 2°¼."
In July and August the days were warm, as were also the nights in the last month; "in
September both the days and nights were cold." "The degree of humidity was in defect
during the quarter. The pressure of the atmosphere was in excess in July; and in defect
in August and September. The fall of rain was 5'9 inches. The mean temperature for the
quarter was 58'°8. The death rate in this quarter was exceedingly high; and much
sickness prevailed everywhere.
The weather of the last quarter of the year "presented some peculiarities." A warm
period set in about the middle of October, and continued until near the end; then the
weather became variable; some days being in excess of temperature, others below. From
the end of October to the beginning of December the weather "was unusually rough."
"violent storms" occurred, "and swept the face of the earth." carrying with them blessings
and calamities. The degree of humidity was below its average in December. The
pressure of the atmosphere was below its average in October, and above in November and
December. Fog prevailed on 66 days. The rain fall was 46 inches. The mean temperature
46°8 ; 3°2 above the average of 92 years.*
I give as usual an analysis made by Dr. Eobert Dundas Thomson, F. E. S., of the
water consumed by us. Considerable variation takes place as regards its purity from
month to month, depending greatly upon the rain fall.
* The above account of the weather, is compiled from the quarterly returns of the Registrar General.