The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As you have inserted some communications
relative to the state of the weather during the past
Bummer, perhaps you will allow me to offer a few
observations on the same subject. Having anxiously
noticed the quarter from which the wind blew from
the 20th to the 26th of last March, at the end of
that month I stated to several persons in this town
my anticipations that for the folloWing six months
the weather would be generally wet, stormy, and
ungenial. Some of my friends, in order to test their
correctness by the issue, made a special note of these
"forebodings," as they termed them, which have,
unfortunately, been too well verified.
The wind during the seven days abovenamed was,
for the most part, south and southwest with occa-
sional showers—a condition which almost invariably
indicates excess of rain for the following half year.
Your readers will have an opportunity of judging for
themselves respecting the truth of this rule, if it may
be so called, by marking the point from which the
wind blows from the 20th to the 26th of the
present month. Should it be from the south or
South-west, a continuance of the late weather may
be expected. If, on the other hand, the direction
should be any point from the north, a dry autumi
Ind bracing cheerful winter may be looked for. It
is not meant to be affirmed that in either case the
Season will be altogether wet or fine, but that it will
be so characteristically.
The rule as to the direction of the wind about the
time of the equinox was laid down by some acute
observer long, I believe, before I was born, but,
having for more than 30 years kept a journal of the
weather, and having marked its general correct-
ness, I may be allowed to speak of it with some
little confidence.

May I add that probably we are entering upon a
series of years characterised by more than usual
moisture ? It has been observed that for a cycle of
seven years the winds have chiefly been westerly,
with more or less rainy seasons and indifferent har-
vests, and for an equal period easterly, with dry
seasons and good harvests. It may be remembered
that many years since, during the discussions in
Parliament on the Corn Laws, the late Sir Robert
Peel adverted to this as an established law in con-
nection with some statistics, embracing a period of,
I think, more than 100 years, published by the late
Mr. Tooke, showing the prices of wheat as high or
low, and as accurately corresponding with the cha-
have the honour to be, sir,
racter of these cycles.—I
yours, R. H.
Cheltenham, Sept. 17.

SALMON FISHING.—A corresponaent of the
Scotsman says :—The nets having been taken off the Tay on
the 26th of last month, anglers were looking forward to good
Sport with the rod, as the late act of Parliament extends the
period of rod fishing till the 30th Sept.' but from the late
rains producing frequent spates in the river, the salmon are
unsettled and will not rise to the fly. If, however, the
weather should become settled and fine, the next fortnight
should yield a good return, the river being at present very
full of fish, as they are seen breaking the water in evereen
y
quarter. The greater part of the fish that we have s
showing themselves are clear and silvery; last year they
were getting brown by this time ; but the salmon are like
the season, later this year.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of
gold a
is about at par, and the short exchange on Lend"'
is 25.15 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the
t Paris
English Mint price of £3 17s. 10d. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that gold is about 1-10th per
cent. dearer in Paris than in'!Lonslon. By advices from
Hamburg the price.of gold is 4241 per mark, and the short
exchange on London is 13.41 per £1 sterling. Standard gold
at the English Mint price is therefore about 3-10ths per
cent, dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight
is about 1091 per cent., which, when compared with the Mint
par between the two countries, shows that the exchange
Is slightly in favour of England ; and, after making allow-
ance for charges of transport and difference of interesti
the present rate leaves a small pro At on the importatiell
gold from the United States.