Genre:

Letter, Spoof; Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [6]

Illustrators:

Esau Wapshot *

Subjects:

Meteorology, Prognostication, Charlatanry, Amateurism

    The letter presents the 'best forecasts' of Cousin Adam for 'this present severe winter'. It is followed by six illustrations of an elderly man (presumably Cousin Adam) struggling against weather conditions that clearly confound his own predictions. For example, one illustration is of Cousin Adam fighting off bright sunlight in a field, and has the caption '1865. Dec. 1st—Severe Frost and Sleet', thus demonstrating his incompetence at weather prediction.