The quoted couplet was in allusion to the rainy weather which usually followed the appearance of sea-fogs upon the summit of the Downs. The fact of divination of fog and rain had also been confirmed by several other persons who had had opportunities of noticing such. In the first year of his observations, fog prevailed more or less on 37 days, and in the second year, on 53 days. In the first year there were 123 days on which rain fell, and in the 2nd year, 142 days. The quantity of rain collected in the former year (as before stated) was 22.7, and in the latter 20.3 inches. The mean degree of humidity was 90 and 87 in the same years respectively. Comparing these results with Mr. Banks's observations, he found in the first year that Fairlight had 38 more rainy days than Hastings had, and 1.69 inches more rainfall. In the second year, Fairlight had 59 more rainy days, and 0.97in. more rain. Perhaps that great difference in the number of rainy days arose from different modes of observation. [This was a courteous way of putting it, seeing that Mr. Rock's comparisons were made with Mr. Banks's recorded observations, which in some particulars - his rainy days to wit - he was not always correct. In Vol. 7 "Local History" page 13, is copy of letter sent to the Times newspaper in 1858 by Dr. Garrett, that gentleman, quoting from Mr. Banks's record of the weather, and treating of the mild winter, stated that during two months, rain had fallen only on two days, whereas (as shown by the present writer in his correction of Dr. Garrett's letter in the volume and on the page here named) there were nine days in one of the months named and seven in the other on which rain fell either in showers or drizzle. This single instance is referred to as supporting Mr. Rock's remark that the great difference of 38 more rainy days at Fairlight, than Hastings in one year, and 59 more in the next year might have arisen from different modes of observation.] From the height of Fairlight Down above the level of the sea, between 500 and 600 feet, its temperature was of necessity low as compared with that of Hastings. Taking Mr. Banks's observations from maximum and minimum thermometers only, the comparison stood thus:-
| 1857-8 | Mean temp. | Highest | Lowest | |||
| Fairlight | - - | 48.90 | - - | 84 | - - | 21.0 |
| Hastings | - - | 52.55 | - - | 88 | - - | 27.0 |
| 1858-9 | ||||||
| Fairlight | - - | 48.40 | - - | 87 | - - | 25.0 |
| Hastings | - - | 52.03 | - - | 91 | - - | 30.0 |
In comparing the climate of Fairlight with that of other stations, appearing in the Registrar-General's monthly and quarterly re-
