The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-20 00:00:00

REPOler OP- TICE WEATIIER,

FOR TIIE YEARS 1845 AND 1846.
In Mr. Mackenzie's Report of the Weather for the
ensuing two years, with an early copy of .which we
are supplied by that gentleman, he observes :—" The
year 1844 may now be numbered among the things
that were; the year came out perfectly agreeable to
the description given of it in the reports for 1841,
1842, and 1843—the repeated announcements being
made in advance, on account of the extraordinary fine
weather expected on this memorable year. A similar
reason prompts the present notice—first, for the year
1845, on account of its general favourable character ;
and secondly, for the year 1846, which is published a
year earlier than usual, because of the windy charac-
ter of that year, especially of the autumn quarter."l
In the report for the year 1843, published by Mr.
Mackenzie, at Perth, in the month of March, 1842,
he anticipated the year just closing in the following
words :—" Let one and all endeavour to live and see
the year 1844. On this year (beginning the Ist No-
vember, 1843) a series of weather of the finest de-
scription is promised by the calculations, such as has
not been witnessed by any one now living."
It is superfluous to direct public attention to the
strict ;accordance of the past year with this calcula-
tion. A finer season, or a more abundant or better
secured harvest, has not been experienced for the last
50 years. " The weather of 1845 (says Mr. Mac-
kenzie in his present report), though differing eonsi-
derably from that of 1844, will nevertheless have a
high rate of ' very fine days,' and of ' temperate days,'
which must render the period generally a pleasant
one."

The mind of the most ordinary observer cannot fail
to be strongly impressed with the importance of such
a computation as this, founded upon the most minute
and unintermitting observation, of one solitary indivi-
dual, for a period extending over half's, century. In
tact, the great value of these observations consists in
their continuity; the deductions from them are inevi-
table and irreversible ; and they must eventually lead
to a complete discovery of the weather cycle, a sys-
tem totally distinct and apart from planetary influence,
and computation—and which consists in showing the
approach of more or less favourable or unfavourable
seasons (not weeks or days), in respect to the crops
reared by the agriculturist, so that in all time coming
the visitations of deficient harvests can never come by
surprise;—a system, in truth, the discovery of which
will prove the accuracy of the doctrine laid down by
Professor Jameson, when, nearly thirty years ago, in
a philosophical essay on this very subject, in the
Edinburgh Review, he averred that " the complex
system of winds moulds the climate, and varies the
features of the seasons over the globe."
Before proceeding to announce the weather, agree-
ably to this system, for the year 1845, commencing
on the Ist of November next, it may be necessary to
premise that averages of all the phenomena of the
weather are struck for a certain number of years, and
that when the simple phrases of " rather," slightly,"
" moderately," " considerably" windy are made use
of, they all signify so much above average, and the
same of every other phenomenon. Prom the Ist
November, 1844, to the month of May, 1845
which composes the winter division of the year—the
season promises a full average of frost and snow ; yet
many temperate days, with an average of wind and
rain. From May to the Ist November, 1845—being
the end of the weather year, and which composes the
summer division of the year—the season will have an
average of wind, with many clear days. Temperate
days, the general run ; and on the whole a mild sea-
son. Thunder and lightning slightly over average ;
frost considerably over average, and rain sensibly
over average.

To sum up the annual period of 1845, it will be
found that westerly winds will prevail, and the year
will be an average windy one. Red, yellow, brown,
and black clouds all considerably above average.
Many clear days, yet average cloudiness. Temp-
rate, fine temperate, and very fine temperate, all
much above average—rather a singular characteristic
of the year. Frost, slightly over average; snow, much
over average ; quantity of rain, rather over average.
It may, therefore, be safely concluded, that there
will be little or nothing particularly noticeable in the
forthcoming year, and that, in fact, in an agricultural
point of view, and as regards the means of securing
another abundant harvest, by ordinary attention to
the operations of the season, no serious apprehensions
need be entertained; nor can the present moderate
prices of grain be materially affected. If, however, a
famine and evil days were approaching—and which,
in the course of time, can be forecast with the same
certainty—there can be no doubt that this system, at
present in its struggling infancy, would immediately
command the most profound attention ; though it
must be evident to the most superficial observer, that
it is of as much importance, and requires precisely
the same degree of accurate observation, discernment,
and computation, to forecast a favourable season as an
unfavourable one. And this necessarily leads to the
consideration of the weather for the year 1846. The
character of that year is given thus early, in order to
guard the public against the presumptuous and delu-
sive hallucinations of the astrological almanac-makers,
as well as on account of certain peculiarities of the
autumn quarter, of which it is of great importance
duly to apprise the agricultural and commercial com-
munity.
WINTER SEASON.—November and December, 1845 ;
January, February, March, and April, 1846 :—Very
considerably windy ; rather wet; very fine days,
slightly under average; frost and snow, both above
average; days rain, slightly over average.
SUMMER SEASON.—May, June, July, August,
September, and October :—An unprecedently windy
period, and over average rain ; considerable number
of warm days, but the general mild temperature
under average ; very fine days, a full average. Days
of rain, under average, except in July.
ANNUAL PERIOD.—A very windy period indeed,
and sensibly over average rain ; mild temperature
above average; very fine days, average. The high
winds of the year 1846—especially the more violent
winds in August and September—will astonish the
public of the British Islands, and of Europe generally.
Thus much with regard to the general character of
the weather for the ensuing two years ; and were it
not for the necessity of condensing articles of this de-
scription, and the danger of becoming tiresome to the
running reader, the weather for ten or twenty years
to come could be given with the same safety and con-
fidence. Enough, however, has been indicated to
direct public attention to the examination and study
of the entire system, and to the discovery of the cycle
of the winds made by Mr. Mackenzie, which, sooner
or latter, will become the most important and indis-
pensable rude mecum of every class, from the statesman
and stalist, the commercial man and the agriculturist,
down to the humble cottager.
In conclusion, it need only be hinted at present,
that the high winds, for many years to come, will be
more noted for their duration than their frequency.
For the years 1847 and 1848, the calculations indicate
other peculiarities of the weather of a startling nature,
the description of which Mr. Mackenzie is fully pre-
pared to promulgate when he finds it convenient, al-
though his advanced age and physical infirmities are
beginning to make serious inroads upon a constitu-
tion originally good, but necessarily shaken by a life
of persevering research, and stupendous, but ill-re-
quited labour, in the service of mankind.

BALLOON ASCENT AT BROMLEY, KENT.—On
Wednesday evening Mr. Hampton, the intrepid aeronaut,
ascended from the gardens of the White Hart Inn,
Bromley. It being the first balloon ascent that has been
made in this town, the inhabitants manifested consider-
able interest in the aeronautic exhibition. At half-past
five o'clock the monster balloon ascended most ma-
jestically, and afforded the highly respectable spectators
great delight and satisfaction. Mr. Wells, who is en-
thusiastically fond of ballooning, again aecompanied Mr.
Hampton. The aeronauts, after a pleasant and expe-
ditious journey, descended safely on Burley Down, a
few miles from Croydon. After packing the balloon,
Mr. Hampton and Mr. Wells dined with George Smith,
Esq., at Selsdon, and were treated with the greatest
kindness and hospitality by that gentleman. There are
two things worthy of remark in this ascent. The first
is, that a balloon of very large dimensions was filled at
Bromley by Mr. M. Hutchison, brother to the celebrated
engineer
praise,Vauxhall. imperfect therefore, is due to Mr. Hutchison
supply of
It frequently
loons
ooe for having
a s
in
man 3
,
large
attempted and completed the inflation. The
d factof
be mentioned is, that the balloon travelled
second
o n
n s get
great
but t
o
ten miles in ten minutes, there being a fresh
onorth-
easterly wind. The balloon, however, was secured
with ease, owing to Mr. Hampton's improvements.
the audience
f the
were
SCENE AT A THEATRE.—Last evening, during the
performance
play
much excited Othello,
at
ty
athneanVnoicutnocriea
Theatre,-
ment from the management. Towards the close of tho
play, and just before the last act was to be represented,
Mr. Osbaldiston came forward and addressed the audience
as follows:—" Ladies and gentlemen, I am placed in a
most painful position. I know not what to say.--(Sensa-
tion.) Mr. Kirby, who has been drunk to night, has in-
sulted the whole company. and without saying a word to
me has left the house."—(Cries of, " It's a lie, Mr. Kirby
is not drunk.") Mr. Osbaldiston proceeded—" If it's
your wish, I will send after him and try to get him on."
—(Great confusion.) Several gentlemen in the pit here
rose and essayed to speak. One gentleman, after the
confusion had subsided, said, " Ladies and gentlemen,
it is untrue to say that Mr. Kirby is drunk ; I have just
seen him, and he is as sober as any person in the house
this moment. The fact is, Mr. Osbaldiston has grossly
insulted Mr. Kirby by telling Miss Vincent, in the pre-
sence of the whole company, not to speak the speeches,
but to come to cues, and not be humbugged by the
damned Yankey.—(Great sensation.) Mr. Kirby has
just attempted to enter the theatre and explain to You
the nature of the gross insult offered him, but Mr.
Osbaldiston has ordered the doorkeepers not to admit
him." Great confusion followed this gentleman's re-
' marks, and a noise at the box entrance added net a
little to the uproar, and upon inquiry it was found that
Mr. Osbaldiston and Mr. Kirby were at the door, the
, latter gentleman having paid for a box ticket, and the
former refusing him admittance. The house' thinnael
after the above affair, and the other pieces went off very
taasely.