To the seaman the weather experienced during the year 1889 must be considered as exceptionally favourable, for, like its predecessors 1887 and 1888, storms were of very rare occurrence in the British Islands, and as a necessary consequence, the number of vessels •wrecked on the coasts of the United Kingdom were proportionately small. The winds and weather were however unusually changeable, eo that the navigator had often to be on the alert, not knowing what might follow the indications of a falling glass; and in applying the old adage, " To be forewarned is to be forearmed,'* preparation had often to be made for bad weather. The worst of the weather has, however, generally proved to be well to the westward of onr shores, and the "disturbances which caused the alarm have passed away with very little more than a freshening wind, with perhaps a few squalls and a heavy downpour of rain.

(Sales have, however, been experienced, but they have been fewer than usual, especially in the more southern parts of the United Kingdom, and they have generally been of a less severe character than ordinarily. The weather in Scotland and Ireland was more stormy than in England, these parts of our islands being situated nearer to the central areas of the disturbances, and this fact has also given to these parts of the kingdom a milder temperature. The conditions which prevailed in January of last year exhibit very clearly the influence of these travelling disturbances on our climate. During the whole of the month, only one stormcentre passed over any part of the kingdom, but frequent disturbances passed to the westward and northward of our coasts. At Stomoway, gales were reported on niaeteea days; at Mullaghmore, in the north-west of Ireland, on twelve days; at Scilly on ten days; whilst not a single gale was experienced at Liverpool, Leith, or Yarmouth. The temperature, which is usually at its lowest in this month, was ten degrees warmer in the west of Ireland than over the eastern district of England in the same latitude, whilst stations in the north of Scotland were at least five degrees warmer than in London. About the most stormy period of 1889 occurred during the first half of February, several large and deep disturbances passing from north and northwest over the northern and eastern parts of the country, and causing severe northwesterly and northerly gales, with snow, sleet, hail, and much thunder and lightning, in almost all parts of the kingdom.

The track followed by these storms was very unusual, and affords a good illustration of the difficulties which have to be contended with in forecasting the weather in this country. Somewhat numerous gales were also experienced in March, but they were not severe. The storm of the 7th to 9th, however, caused serious floods over the south-western districts of England arid in the midland counties. The spring and summer months were usually very quiet, so far as wind-storms were concerned; gales were occasionally experienced, but they were not of an important character. The weather was, however, very unsettled during the greater part of the summer; heavy thunderstorms were experienced at the commencement of June, but generally throughout the month the weather was fine and dry; but in July and August frequent and heavy rains were experienced.

The worst storm of the year occurred on the 7th of October, during which the Holyhead Breakwater sustained very serious damage, and the violence of the wind wrought considerable havoc at sea and on shore. Severe gales were also experienced at the commencement of November, the Pottnvsh Life-boat being capsized in the storm of the 1st, and three of her crew drowned. It is seldom that a year passes with fewer severe storms passing over England, but this can in no way be taken as a clue to the weather experienced out in the open Atlantic. Storms have often been fallen in with at no great distance from our shores, but in many instances these have not reached us. Probably the heaviest storm of the year was that which blew in the early part of September, and which is now known as the St. Thomas-Hatteras hurricane. This was of "West-Indian origin, and finally occasioned enormous damage along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Although 1889 resembled its predecessor, so far as the quiet character of its winds are concerned, in the vicinity of our own islands, the years differed very materially in the general character of the weather. In 1888 the weather was, throughout, most unseasonable, and there was an entire absence of anything like real summer. Last year the special feature of the weather was its seasonable character month after mouth, and the rains of July and August were by no means as disastrous as were at oae time anticipated, bright and warm sunshine setting in, so that the farmer could harvest his crops. Probably the best indication that the weather was seasonable is the exceptionally low death-rate for London throughout the year, the number of deaths being 3500 fewer than in 1888, and the rate per 1000 of the population 1-0 less. These facts show that the year which has just passed is, at all events as far as London is concerned, the healthiest on record. It is to be hoped that the present year may prove as favourable in every respect. It has set in with very similar conditions to 1889 so far as the weather is concerned, for both years were ushered in with frost and fog.—From The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 7th January, 1890..