Devizes.
_Wet Season in 1348._--Accidentally looking into Holinshed a few days ago,
I found that our present unusually wet season is not without a parellel,
indeed much exceeded; as on that occasion the harvest must have been a
complete failure, and dearth and disease consequently ensued. Providence,
however, has kindly blessed us with an average harvest; and, exclusive of
the disasters attendant upon storms and floods, I trust we shall escape any
further visitation. I annex an extract of the passage in Holinshed:
"In this 22 yeare [of Edward III., A.D. 1348], from Midsummer to
Christmasse, for the more part it continuallie rained, so that there
was not one day and night drie togither, by reason whereof great flouds
insued, and the ground therewith was sore corrupted, and manie
inconueniences insued, as great sickenes, and other, insomuch that in
the yeare following, in France, the people died wonderfullie in diverse
places. In Italie also, and in manie other countries, as well in the
lands of the infidels as in Christendome, this grieuous mortalitie
reigned, to the great destruction of people. About the end of August,
the like dearth began in diuerse places of England, and especiallie in
London, continuing so for the space of twelue moneths following. And
vpon that insued great barrennesse, as well of the sea as the land,
neither of them yielding such plentie of things as before they had
done. Wherevpon vittels and corne became scant and hard to come
by."--_The Chronicles of Raphaell Holinshed_, fol., vol. iii. p. 378
(black letter).
[Phi].
_General Wolfe._--It may interest many of your readers to know that a
portrait of General Wolfe, by Ramsay, 1758, is to be sold by Messrs.
Christie and Manson, at their rooms, 8. King Street, St. James's Square, on
Saturday, February 12.
The picture is marked No. 300 in the catalogue of the first two days' sale.
It formed part of the collection of a gentleman lately deceased, whom I had
the pleasure of knowing.