SIR,
Read Jan. 12, 1758.
ON the reading of Dr. Huxham’s letter at the last meeting, some observations occurred to me, concerning the different temperature of the air, which I had observed at the Edystone, from what had been observed by the Doctor at Plymouth, between the 7th and 14th of July last: which having been desired by some members to be put into writing, I beg leave to trouble you with the following.
Edystone is distant from Plymouth about 16 miles, and without the head-lands of the Sound about 11.
The 7th and 8th were not remarkable at Edystone for heat or cold; the weather was very moderate, with a light breeze at east; which allowed us to work upon the rock both days, when the tide served.
About midnight, between the 8th and 9th, the wind being then fresh at east, it was remarkably cold for the season, as I had more particular occasion to observe, on account of a ship that was cast away upon the rocks. The wind continued cold the 9th all day; which was complained of by some of the shipwrecked seamen, who had not time to save their cloaths; and so fresh at east, as prevented our going near the rocks, or the wreck; and so continued till Sunday the 10th; when, seeing no prospect of a sudden alteration of weather, I returned to Plymouth in a sailing boat, wrapped up in my thick coat. As soon as we got within the headlands, I could perceive the wind to blow considerably warmer; but not so warm as to make my great coat uneasy. Having had a quick passage, in this manner I went home, to the great astonishment of the family to see me so wrapped up, when they were complaining of the excessive heat: and indeed, it was not long before I had reason to join in their opinion.
This heat I experienced till Tuesday the 12th, when I again went off to sea, where I found the air very temperate, rather cool than warm; and so continued till Thursday the 14th.
In my journal for Wednesday the 13th I find the following remarks, viz. “This evening’s tide” (from 6 A. till 12 A.) “the wind at east, but moderate, with frequent flashes of lightning to the southward. Soon after we got on board the store-vessel, a squall of wind arose from the south-west on a sudden, and continued for about a minute; part of which time it blew so hard, we expected the masts to go by the board: after which it was perfectly calm, and presently after a breeze returned from the east.”
And in the journal of the 14th is entered, “This morning’s tide” (viz. from 1 M. to 1 A.) “the air and sea quite calm.”
Hence it appears, how different the temper of the air may be in a small distance; and to what small spaces squalls of wind are sometimes confined.