Plymouth, I find by those curious and accurate remarks, which
contain an account of the weather from the year 1727 to the year
1748, inclusive, that though there is frequent rain in that district of
Devonshire, yet the quantity falling is not great; and that some
years it has been very small: for in 1731 the rain measured only
17.266 in. and in 1741, 20.354 in.; and again in 1743 only 20.908
in. Places near the sea have frequent scuds, that keep the
atmosphere moist, yet do not reach far up into the country; making
thus the maritime situations appear wet, when the rain is not
considerable. In the wettest years at Plymouth the Doctor measured
only once 36 in.; and again once, viz., 1734, 37.114 in.: a quantity
of rain that has twice been exceeded at Selborne in the short period
of my observations. Dr. Huxham remarks, that frequent small rains
keep the air moist; while heavy ones render it more dry, by beating
down the vapours. He is also of opinion that the dingy, smoky
appearance of the sky, in very dry seasons, arises from the want of
moisture sufficient to let the light through, and render the
atmosphere transparent; because he had observed several bodies
more diaphanous when wet than dry; and did never recollect that
the air had that look in rainy seasons.

My friend who lives just beyond the top of the down, brought his
three swivel guns to try them in my outlet, with their muzzles
towards the Hanger, supposing that the report would have had a
great effect; but the experiment did not answer his expectation. He
then removed them to the Alcove on the Hanger: when the sound,
rushing along the Lythe and Combwood, was very grand: but it was
at the Hermitage that the echoes and repercussions delighted the
hearers; not only filling the Lythe with the roar, as if all the
beeches were tearing up by the roots; but, turning to the left, they