to have been flain while he was befieging that fortrefs. This capital at present has the form of a fleur de lis; but as the most ornamented croffes, whether devotional, or family monuments, which remain perfect in the Western Isles of Scotland, have the crofs inclofed in a quatrefoil,* it is easy to conceive how this figure might be produced, by breaking the top and outer limbs of the circles.. Meteorological * See Pennant's Voyage to the Western Isles. + A cross formerly ftood near Wigan, to which the following ftory relates. Mabel (daughter and co-heir of Hugh Norris, Lord of Sutton, Raynhill, Whifton, Haigh, Blackrod and Leigh, and wife to Sir William Bradshaw, of Haigh, in the neighbourhood of Wigan) during the ten years absence of her husband, who was reported to be flain in the Holy War, married Sir Ofmund Neville, a Welsh Knight. Sir William returned, and asked alms at Leigh, in the habit of a Palmer. Mabel, ftruck with this refemblance of her former husband, fell a weeping, for which he was feverely reproved by Sir Ofmund. Sir William then made himself known to his tenants; and Sir Ofmund, on receiving the intelligence, fled towards Wales; but, near to Newton Park, in Lancashire, Sir William overtook, and flew him. Mabel was enjoined by her confeffor to do pennance whilst she lived, by going once every week barefoot and barclegged from Haigh to the above mentioned cross near Wigan, which was called Mab's Cross from the above occafion. The far-worn effigies of Sir William and Lady Mabel now remain in the chancel of Wigan church. He with his hand upon his fword, and a fhield charged with two bends upon his left arm; she is in a long robe, and veiled, with her hands elevated, as at prayer. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, collected and arranged by THOMAS GARNETT, M. D. Phyfician at Harrogate: Member of the Royal Medical, Royal Phyfical, and Natural History, Societies of Edinburgh; of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester; of the Medical Society of London; of the Royal Irish Academy, &c. Communicated by Dr. PERCIVAL. IT READ, MARCH 27, 1795 is properly obferved by a late writer, that there is scarce any fubject in which mankind feel themselves more interested, than in the ftate of the weather; that is, in the temperature of the air, the influences of wind, rain, &c.* It forms a principal topic of converfation. By the weather the traveller endeavours to regulate his journies, and the farmer his operations; by it plenty and famine are difpenfed, and millions are furnished with the neceffaries of life. It is intimately connected with the health of the human body, with every part of natural hiftory, and particularly with agriculture. On account of the extenfive nature of the fubject, meteorology has long engaged the attention of philofophers; and many ingenious and plaufible conjectures on Adams's Lectures on natural philofophy, vol. 4: the the nature of rain, and other meteors, have been given to the public; but the facts of which we are at present poffeffed, are too few in number, and have been made at places too remote from each other, either to refute or confirm the theories in question. In the first part of this volume is given an account of a number of meteorological obfervations made on the western coast of this island. Since the publication of that memoir, I have received journals from different parts of the kingdom, and have prevailed on feveral philofophical friends, in various counties, to keep registers of the barometer, thermometer, rain, wind, &c. By thefe means I hope we fhall, in time, fupply the deficiency of observation, and enable the philofopher to correct his theory by facts. It is in the power of the Society greatly to promote this undertaking; and it would contribute greatly to the attainment of the object, if they would furnish intelligent perfons in different parts with proper inftruments, on condition of their tranfmitting annually an account of their obfervations: and it might perhaps be right to ftimulate to fuch exertions, by conferring an honorary premium on those who have made accurate observations for a certain number of years. A publication has lately appeared called the Meteorologist's Affiftant in keeping a diary of the |