THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD, NO. 51, FILBERT STREET. VOL. II.-NO. 11. CLIMATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. Account of the Climate of Pennsylvania, and its influence on the human body. By Benjamin Rush, M. D. Concluded from page 154. NO.39. in the river Schuylkill, which had never been observed before, by the oldest persons then alive. On one of them were cut the figures 1701. The atmosphere, du ring part of this dry weather, was often filled, especially The air, when dry in Pennsylvania, has a peculiar in the mornings, with a thin mist, which, while it deelasticity, which renders the heat and cold less insup-ceived with the expectation of rain, served the valuable portable, than the same degrees of both are in moister purpose of abating the heat of the sun. I am sorry countries. It is in those cases only, when summer show-that I am not able to furnish the mean heat of each of ers are not succeeded by northwest winds, that the the summer months. My notes of the weather enable heat of the air becomes oppressive and distressing, from me to add nothing further upon this subject, than that being combined with moisture. the summer was "uncommonly cool." From tradition, as well as living observation, it is evi- The summer of the year 1788 afforded a remarkable dent, that the waters in many of the creeks in Pennsyl- instance of excess in the quantity of rain, which somevania have diminished considerably within these last times falls in Pennsylvania. Thirteen days are marked fifty years. Hence many mills, erected upon large and with rain in July in the records of the weather kept at deep streams of water, now stand idle in dry weather: Springmill. There fell, on the 18th and 19th of Auand many creeks, once navigable in large boats, are now gust, seven inches of rain in the city of Philadelphia.impassable, even in canoes. This diminution of the wa-The wheat suffered greatly by the constant rains of Ju ters has been ascribed to the application of a part of them to the purpose of making meadows. The mean elevation of the barometer in Philadelphia, is about thirty inches. The variations in the barometer are very inconsiderable, in the greatest changes of the weather, which occur in the city of Philadelphia. During the violent and destructive storm, which blew from the south west on the 11th of November, 1788, it suddenly fell from 30 to 29 3-10. Mr. Rittenhouse informs me, that long and faithful observations have satisfied him, that the alterations in the height of the mercury, in the barometer, do not precede, but always succeed changes in the weather. It falls from the south and south west, and rises with the north and north west winds. The quantity of water, which falls in rain and snow, one year with another, amounts to from 24 to 36 inches. But to complete the account of variable qualities in the climate, it will be necessary to add, that our summers and autumns are sometimes marked by a deficiency, or by an excessive quantity of rain. The summer and autumn of 1782 were uncommonly dry. Nearly two months elapsed without a single shower of rain. There were only two showers in the whole months of Sept. and October. In consequence of this dry weather, there was no second crop of hay. The Indian corn failed of its increase in many places, and was cut down for food for cattle. Trees newly planted, died. The pasture fields not only lost their verdure, but threw up small clouds of dust, when agitated by the feet of men, or beasts. Cattle in some instances were driven many miles to be watered, every morning and evening. The earth became so inflammable in some places, as to burn above a foot below its surface. A complete consumption of the turf, by an accidental fire, kindled in the adjoining state of N. Jersey, spread terror and distress through a large tract of country. Crabs, which never forsake salt or brackish water, were caught more than a mile above the city of Philadelphia, in the river Delaware, which is sixty miles above the places in which they are usually found. Springs of water and large creeks were dried up in many parts of the state. Rocks appeared It was remarked, during this dry weather, that the sheep were uncommonly fat, and their flesh well tasted, while all the other domestic animals languished from the want of grass and water. VOL. II. 23 ly, in the eastern and middle parts of the state. So unproductive a harvest in grain, from wet weather, had not been known, it is said, in the course of the last se venty years. The heat of the air, during these summer months, was very moderate. Its mean temperature at Springmill was 67.8 in June, 74.7 in July, and only 70.6 in August. It is some consolation to a citizen of Pennsylvania, int recording facts, which seem to militate against our climate, to reflect, that the difference of the weather in different parts of the state, at the same season, is hap pily accommodated to promote an increase of the same objects of agriculture: and hence a deficiency of crops has never been known in any one year throughout the whole state. The aurora borealis and meteors are seen occasionally in Pennsylvania. In the present imperfect state of our knowledge of their influence upon the human body, it would be foreign to the design of this history of our climate to describe them. Storms and hurricanes are not unknown in Pennsyl vania. They occur once in four or five years; but they are most frequent and destructive in the autumn. They are generally accompanied by rain. Trees are torn up by the roots; and the rivers and creeks are sometimes swelled so suddenly, as to do considerable damage to the adjoining farms. The wind, during these storms, generally blows from the south east and south west. In the storms, which occurred in September 1769, and in the same month of the year 1785, the wind veered round contrary to its usual course, and blew from the north. After what has been said, the character of the climate of Pennsylvania may be summed up in a few words.There are no two successive years alike. Even the same successive seasons and months differ from each other every year. Perhaps there is but one steady trait in the character of our climate, and that is, it is uniform ly variable. To furnish the reader with a succinct view of the weather in Pennsylvania, that includes all the articles that have been mentioned, I shall here subjoin a table * A similar mist was observed in France by Dr. Franklin, in the summer of 1782. The winter, which succeeded it, was uncommonly cold in France, as well as in Pennsylvania. containing the result of meteorological observations made for one year, near the river Schuylkill, in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, by an ingenious French gentleman, who divides his time between rural employments and useful philosophical pursuits. This table is extracted from the Columbian Magazine for February, 1788. The height of Springmill above the city of Philadelphia, is supposed to be about 70 feet. It is worthy of notice, how near the mean heat of the year, and of the month of April, in two successive years, are to each other in the same place. The mean heat of April, 1787, was 54° 3, that of April, 1788, was 520 2. By the table of the mean heat of each month in the year, it appears that the mean heat of 1787 was 53° 5 at Springmill. "The temperature of the Atlantic, under this parallel, is 62: but the standard of this part of the globe is the North Pacific, which is here 4 or 5 degrees colder than the Atlantic. The yellow sea is the nearest to Pekin, being about 200 miles distant from it: but it is itself cooled by the mountainous country of Corea, which interposes between it and the ocean, for a considerable part of its extent, Besides, all the northern parts of China (in which Pekin lies) must be cooled by the vicinity of the mountains of Chinese Tartary, among which the cold is said to be excessive. "The greatest cold usually experienced during this period, was 5°, the greatest heat, 98°: On the 25th of The following accounts of the climates of Pekin and July 1778, the heat arose to 1080 and 110°: a N. E. or Madrid, which lie within a few minutes of the same lati-N. W. wind produces the greatest cold; a S. or S. W. tude as Philadelphia, may serve to show how much clior S. E. the greatest heat." mates are altered by local and relative circumstances. "Madrid lat. 40° 25′ long. 3° 20′ E. The account of the temperature of the air at Pekin, will serve further to show, that with all the advantages of the highest degrees of cultivation, which have taken place in China, the winters are colder, and the summers warmer there than in Pennsylvania, principally from a cause which will probably operate upon the winters of Pennsylvania for many centuries to come, viz. the vicinity of an uncultivated north west country. "Pekin, lat. 39° 54, long. 116° 29 W. "The usual heat in summer is said to be from 75 to 85°; even at night it seldom falls below 70°; the mean height of the barometer is 26,96. It seems to be about 1900 feet above the level of the sea.'t The above accounts are extracted from Mr. Kirwan's useful and elaborate estimate of the temperature of different latitudes. The history, which has been given, of the climate of Pennsylvania, is confined chiefly to the country on the "By five years observations, its annual mean tempera- east side of the Allegheny mountain. On the west side ture was found to be 55° 5. January 20° 75 February 32 March 48 April 59 Mr. Legeaux. 720 May August 83 of this mountain the climate differs materially from that METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, MADE AT SPRING MILL, THIRTEEN MILES N. N. W. OF PHILADELPHIA. From a review of all the facts which have been mentioned, it appears that the climate of Pennsylvania is a compound of most of the climates in the world. Here we have the moisture of Britain in the spring, the heat of Africa in summer, the temperature of Italy in June, the sky of Egypt in autumn, the cold and snows of Norway, and the ice of Holland in the winter, the tempests (in a certain degree) of the West Indies in every season, and the variable winds and weather of Great Britain in every month of the year. falls every year. The winter seldom breaks up on the mountains before the 25th of March. A fall of snow was once perceived upon it, which measured an inch and an half, on the 11th day of June. The trees, which grow upon it, are small: and Indian corn is with difficulty brought to maturity even at the foot of the east side of it. The south west winds, on the west side of the mountain, are accompanied by cold and rain. The soil is rich, consisting in many places of near a foot of black mould. The roads in this country are muddy in winter; but seldom dusty in summer. The arrangement of the From this history of the climate of Pennsylvania, it is strata of the earth on the west side, differs materially easy to ascertain, what degrees of health, and what disfrom their arrangement on the east side of the mountain. eases prevail in the state. As we have the climate, so "The country, 33 says Mr. Rittenhouse, in a letter to a we have the health, and the acute diseases, of all the friend in Philadelphia, "when viewed from the western countries that have been mentioned. Without attemptridge of the Allegheny, appears to be one vast, extend-ing to enumerate the diseases, I shall only add a few ed plain. All the various strata of stone seem to lie un- words upon the time and manner in which they are disturbed in the situation in which they were first form- produced. ed, and the layers of stone, sand, clay, and coal, are nearly horizontal." The temperature of the air, on the west, is seldom so hot, or so cold, as on the east side of the mountain. By comparing the state of a thermometer, examined by Dr. Bedford at Pittsburg, 284 miles from Philadelphia, it appears, that the weather was not so cold within 12 degrees in that town, as it was in Philadelphia, on the 5th of February, 1788. To show the difference between the weather at Springmill and in Pittsburg, I shall here subjoin an account of it, in both places, the first taken by Mr. Legeaux, and the other by Dr. Bedford. This account is unfortunately confined only to the first fifteen days in April 1788; but it affords a good specimen of the differences of the weather, on the two sides of the mountain, in every month of the year. It is remarkable, that in five days out of seven, the rain which fell, was on the same days in both places. Meteorological observations, made at Springmill, 13 miles Weather. very fair. [ny. fair, overc. raifoggy, rainy. Meteorological observations made at Pittsburg, 284 miles from Philadelphia, Month of April, 1788. Day. Far. Wind. Rain. Thun Weather. I. It appears, from the testimonies of many aged perkinds, are less frequent now than they were forty and sons, that pleurisies and inflammatory disorders of all fifty years ago. fevers have increased in Pennsylvania, in proportion as II. It is a well known fact, that intermitting and bilious the country has been cleared of its wood, in many parts of the state. ed or disappeared, in proportion as the country has III. It is equally certain, that these fevers have lessen been cultivated. IV. Heavy rains and freshes in the spring seldom produce fevers, unless they be succeeded by unseasonably warm weather. weather, if they occur before the 20th August, seldom V. Sudden changes from great heat to cold, or cool produce fevers. After that time, they are generally followed by them. VI. The same state of the atmosphere, whether cold or warm, moist or dry, continued for a long time without any material changes, is always healthy. Acute and inflammatory fevers were in vain looked for in the cold winter of 1779-80. The dry summer of 1782, and the wet summer of 1788, were likewise uncommonly healthy, in the city of Philadelphia. These facts extend only to those diseases which depend upon the sensible qualities of the air. Diseases from miasmata and conta gion, are less influenced by the uniformity of the wea ther. The autumn of 1780 was very sickly in Philadel phia, from the peculiar situation of the grounds in the neighbourhood, while the country was uncommonly healthy. The dry summer and autumn of 1782, were uncommonly sickly in the country, from the extensive sources of morbid exhalation, which were left by the diminution of the waters in the creeks and rivers. VII. Diseases are often generated in one season, and Hence we frequently observe feproduced in another. vers of different kinds to follow every species of the weather, which has been mentioned in the last observa tion. VIII. The excessive heat in Pennsylvania, has sometimes proved fatal, to persons who have been much exposed to it. Its morbid effects discover themselves by a difficulty of breathing, a general languor, and, in some instances, by a numbness and an immobility of the extremities. The excessive cold in Pennsylvania has more frequently proved fatal, but it has been chiefly to those persons who have sought a defence from it, by large draughts of spirituous liquors. Its operation in bringing on sleepiness, previously to death, is well known. On the 5th of February 1788, many people were af fected by the cold. It produced a pain in the head; and, in one instance, a sickness at the stomach, and a vomiting appeared to be the consequence of it. I have frequently observed, that a greater number of old people die, during the continuance of extreme cold and warm weather, than in the same number of days in moderate weather. IX. May and June are usually the healthiest months in the year. X. The influence of the winds upon health, depends very much upon the nature of the country over which they pass. Winds, which pass over mill-dams and marshes in August and September, generally carry with them the seeds of fevers. XI. The country in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia is much more sickly than the central parts of the city, after the 20th of August. XII. The night air is always unwholesome from the 20th of August, especially during the passive state of the system in sleep, The frequent and sudden changes of the air from heat to cold, (exclusive of its insensible qualities) render it unsafe at any time to sleep with open windows. XIII. Valetudinarians always enjoy the most health in Pennsylvania in the summer and winter months, The spring, in a particular manner, is very unfavourable to them. I shall conclude the account of the influence of the climate of Pennsylvania upon the human body, with the following observations. 1. The sensations of heat and cold are influenced so much by outward circumstances, that we often mistake the degrees of them, by neglecting to use such conveniences as are calculated to obviate the effects of their excess. A native of Jamaica often complains less of the heat, and a native of Canada of the cold, in their respective countries, than they do, under certain circumstances, in Pennsylvania. Even a Pennsylvanian frequently complains less of the heat in Jamaica, and the cold in Canada, than in his native state. The reason of this is plain. In countries where heat and cold are intense and regular, the inhabitants guard themselves by accommodating their houses and dresses to each of them. The instability and short duration of excessive heat and cold in Pennsylvania, have unfortunately led its inhabitants, in many instances, to neglect adopting customs, which are used in hot and cold countries to guard against them. Where houses are built with a southern or south-western front exposure, and where other accommodations to the climate are observed in their construction, the disagreeable excesses of heat and cold are rendered much less perceptible in Pennsylvania. Perhaps the application of the principles of philosophy and taste to the construction of our houses within the last thirty or forty years, may be another reason why some old people have supposed that the degrees of heat and cold are less in Pennsylvania than they were in former years. 2. The variable nature of the climate of Pennsylvania does not render it necessarily unhealthy. Dr. Huxham has taught us, that the healthiest seasons in Great Britain have often been accompanied by the most variable weather. His words upon this subject convey a reason for the fact. "When the constitutions of the year are frequently changing, so that by the contrast, a sort of equilibrium is kept up, and health with it; and that especially if persons be careful to guard themselves well against these sudden changes," Perhaps no climate or country is unhealthy, where men acquire from experience or tradition, the arts of accommodating themselves to it. The history of all the nations in the world, whether savage, barbarous, or civilized, previously to a mixture of their manners by an intercourse with strangers, seems to favour this opinion. The climate of China appears, in many particulars, to resemble that of Pennsylvania. The Chinese wear loose garments of different lengths, and increase or diminish the number of them, according to the frequent and sudden changes of their weather; hence they have few acute diseases amongst them. Those inhabitants of Pennsylvania, who have acquired the arts of conforming to the changes and extremes of our weather, in dress, diet, and manners, es Observations on the Air and Epidemic Diseases, vol. I. p. 5, cape most of those acute diseases which are occasioned by the sensible qualities of the air; and faithful inquiries and observations have proved, that they attain to as great ages as the same number of people in any part of the world. REVOLT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LINE. PRINCETON, 5th January, 1781. Mr. JOHN DONALDSON. [On the back.] "I think the auditors should come forward, it will have a good conciliatory effect. Yours, J. REED. Hon. Mr. Morris." [N. B. This letter was designed for the committee, but as they came over the river, I send it to you to save repetition.] Trenton, 3 o'clock, Jany. 6, 1781. Gentlemen-Neither time nor the limits of a letter will permit my entering into a particular detail of the intelligence received from Princeton. In substance it is that the mutineers though acting by system have divisions among themselves, and such suspicions of each other as may soon lay a foundation of proper reconciliation. I am surprised to find that they entertained strong aversion to many of their former officers, and the tales they tell of severities and unobserved promises, have had a great effect on the minds of the people of the state, so that a vigorous resistance by the militia is doubtful, at least till provoked by outrage on their property, or by the troops advancing to unreasonable propositions, which they seem likely to do. I beg leave to communicate in a few words, my present idea, viz.—to hear their complaints, to promise redress to reasonable ones-to repel firmly those of a contrary kind, unless the approach of the enemy should change the face of affairs, and to get the several different claimants to advance their separate claims by separate agents as to clothing and what are the real necessaries of a soldier. I shall engage liberally because these they must have to do their duty-to engage them to admit the old officers to take command if possible and to make no exceptions of pardon, but to the murderers of the deceased officers. It is my present opinion, (but this I would not have influential on the committee contrary to their own judgment) that the negotiation should be first tried on the part of the state, and if new or further concessions than I make are necessary, the committee may have the opportunity to offer them, fully confiding in the wisdom and policy of the committee on such an unhappy occasion, that they will not authorize bad examples on other lines, for I trust the liberties of America do not depend on the caprice of 1500 men, of any state. The enemy are not yet out-that circumstance will change the face of things exceedingly-especially as the troops occasionally turn their eyes to N, York. I shall let the committee know what is the result of the afternoon's conference-I mean to go within 4 miles of Prince ton this afternoon, where I have written Gen. Wayne to meet me, and to inform the troops that I am ready to hear any reasonable complaints decently offered-I shall direct my letters to Mr. Barclay, till I am otherwise requested, and am, gentlemen, Very respectfully, JOS. REED: LETTER OF GOV. REED TO MR. BARCLAY. and if you do not hear from me by 8 o'clock Monday morning, you may conclude things are going right. If (as I doubt not) the enemy really land and advance, the militia must be called unless a perverse spirit should appear, of which the officers will judge. If I cannot get these troops to go back or propose terms, I shall, I believe, go round them and try what effect joining the Jersey militia will have. After the Pennsylvania line has brought the enemy into this state, it would be unpardonable in us not to do every thing in our power for their protection. You will please to communicate to the President of JOS. REED. turned. Yesterday about 12 o'clock, the British got PROBABLY Dear Sir-The enclosed letter to the committee of Congress, which was unnecessary by their arrival at this place will inform you of my proceeding, till 12 o'clock. I forwarded my letter to Gen. Wayne requesting him to meet me 4 miles from Princeton at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and also to let the troops know I should be there to receive any propositions from them, and redress any injuries they had sustained, but that after the indignities offered the Marquis and Gen. St. Clair, I could not put myself in their power. The light horse who carried the letter were civilly treated by the Board of Serjeants, and permitted to deliver their letter to Gen. Wayne; whom they soon after sent for, but he refused attending them, upon which they went to him, seemed affected by the letter which was more calculated for them than for Gen. Wayne. They requested it, and promised they would make the contents known to the men, but this they did not do, whether for want of time (Gen. Wayne having limited the return of it to him in half an hour) or any other cause is not known. However, the men heard of it, and expressed a desire to hear it; but the evening advancing, and Gen. Wayne claiming a right to read it himself, it was agreed to meet early in the morning on the parade of Gen. Wayne to attend for that purpose. Every body agrees there has been a great change Elizabethtown 4 Jan'y. 1781: to day, and that they are more and more divided, which 5 o'clock in the morning. is natural after a few days enjoyment of new and unex- Dear General:-Agreeable to the permission which I pected power. They permitted the horsemen to return received of Mr. L**** that he received of Major Fishand expressed great anxiety to know whether I enter-bourne, I went over to New York and have just now retained any unkind sentiments. Some of the serjeants and men took pains to inform the gentlemen privately, that they were not fond of the business. In short, a number of favourable symptoms turned up, that I should have had great hopes, if unfortunately the enemy had not made a movement: of the effects and consequences of which I am now very doubtful. The enclosed papers will convey the whole of our intelligence on that subject, and it is indeed alarming; for the troops still profess a good disposition against the enemy, they utterly reject their former officers, except a very few; but propose to act under their serjeants, as officers: There are no signs of British gold, or of British emissaries, except a few serjeants, who have been imprudently raised from the ranks to that office. These fellows, doubtless, will do all the mischief they can, but a great majority are certainly well inclined to the country. I hope by Gen. Wayne's promise to meet me to morrow, that he is at his own liberty, but he has met with some mortifying slights. This incursion of the enemy will induce me [to] get them down here if possible, and the same reason will induce me to take them over the river if there is the least prospect of the enemy advancing: as I consider their joining the enemy as a very, indeed a most deplorable event, to be guarded against at the risque of every other consequence. They behave remarkably well at their quarters, but either refuse admission to all their officers or immediately dismiss them except Gen. Wayne and the two Colonels, who do not know whether they are prisoners or not. As the time and circumstance did not admit my proceeding in the business this evening, I returned here, but shall go up in the morning either to get them to march hither or to meet their complaints at some short distance from their guards, for it seems to be a universal opinion, that it is not prudent for me to go within their camp, and my own concur in the present situation of things. Though they take it hard I do not trust them. Every thing necessary for the equipment of a soldier, that is, shirts, shoes, overalls, hats, &c. I shall promise liberally, and in the mean time, I must beg you would collect by some means or other. By an enclosed note you will see they lay great stress upon it. I am told, some of them are very shabby; for this purpose, I have sent down Mr. Turnbull. It is really a most necessary business at present and must be attended to accordingly. To morrow will be an important day, Brig. Gen. Wayne. P. S. Dear General:-I have had the above person present and examined him; therefore, you may rely on the above intelligence. I should be very glad you would let me know how it is with you, as I have not heard nothing from you since night before last. The militia here has collected, tolerable for the time they received orders at this place. Head Quarters, Elizabethtown, Jan. 4, 1781. A true copy. R. BUTLER. Memorandum. There lays in the mouth of Raritan, a sloop of war supposed to be 16 or 20 guns, a sloop thought her tender, a Virginia schooner, a galley and about 12 or 15 flat bottom boats. A schooner and a brigantine, under sail making for the fleet from N. York. The above vessels are on a line from CBillop's point. to From the best accounts I can get, the view of the enemy is to cover the embarkation of the rioters in case they should take a turn towards the line. You may depend on it, that Perth Amboy will be their route and not South Amboy, as is conjectured. The country is open that way, and South Amboy is woody and the embarkation difficult on account of the flats. They cannot embark here, but at particular times of tide when they can at Perth Amboy at any time. I saw the agent yesterday and from his discourse I think they have no other object than the revolters and from the situation of the vessels I think Amboy to be the place. |