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23
But since throughout the three preceeding months some
rain had fallen every week, the freshet always maintained
a greater comparative power, as regards the saltwave
than during June last, although the water was
nearly at 70°. of temperature, the same amount of
putrefactive decomposition was never attained.
On the 5th October, scanty rain-fall having continued,
the freshet was still further diminished in power,
and the proportion of organic and mineral admixture
was still great. But on the 27th of the same month,
the tremendous fall of the 22nd, which measured 2*57
inches, having occurred, the freshet had gained such
force as to drive the salt-wave far below Greenwich, so
that both at high and low water, the water was fresh.
All trace of offensiveness disappeared.
By pursuing a similar course of observations during
the present year, Dr. Letheby has verified my results of
1857. Thus, after the long and unusually early drought
the salt-wave rose in June as high as Wandsworth.
From measurements of the quantity of water above
Windsor, taken in the summer of 1849, by Mr. Freebody,
it appears that 546,352,771 gallons passed in 24 hours;
and in 1834 it was calculated that the whole of the water
flowing down the Thames was equal to 1,103,811,840
gallons in the 24 hours—nearly double the observed
quantity found flowing past Windsor, which of course
was inclusive of the waters of the Colne, Brent, Wey,