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OF STAFFORDSHIRE."

ene inches; and at Upminster, in Essex, they are only nine- teen inchesanda quarter.“The rains of Lancashire amount to forty-two inches, and those of Ireland to more. I believe it will generally hold good as a rule, that the annual rains on the west side of the kingdom are at least double to those on the east side; which I attribute to its being more exposed to the condensation of aqueous vapours arising from the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean. I have no doubt also, but that a vast deal more moisture in this county falls on high grounds than on low, the high grounds being, from situation, more adapted to break, dissolve, and attract the aqueous va- pours afloat in the atmosphere. Accordingly we often find, after rain, great torrents of water pushing down from the high grounds into the valleys: it is more particularly certain, that the high grounds receive a greater quantity of snow in winter than the plains of less elevation.

The aspect of this country is various. The north part rises gently in small hills, which, beginning here, run through the heart of England, like the Apennines in Italy, in a con- tinued ridge, rising gradually higher and higher into Scot- land, under different names: here called Moorlands, then Peak, then Blackstone Edge, then Craven, then Stanmore: and then, parting into two horns, are called Cheviots. The Moorland is a rough dreary cold tract, the snow lying long on it. The people here observe, that the west wind always brings rain, but the east and south winds make fair weather, unless the wind turns about from the west to the south, which then continues rainy.*‘The middle and south part of the county are generally level, or with only gentle eminences.‘To this, however, there are some exceptions; as the limestone hills of Dudley and Sedgeley, which furnish an inexhaustible supply of that material, and great part of it of excellent qua- lity. Tbe Quartzose, or Ragstone Hills of Rowley, furnish an excellent material for roads and pavements. The hills of

* From aseries of observations, taken here these twenty years,(it is proved that) most rain has come from the south-west.—S.