310 State of the Weather and Temperature, 



the s. w. more than all the rest. When the wind is strong 

 from the latter point, or from the south, we have the greatest 

 quantity of rain, and sufficient to occasion, very frequently, 

 the river Kent to overflow its banks. The greatest floods 

 usually originate in a wind from the south, which blows for a 

 while from that quarter ; and, as it moves to the west, the rain 

 gradually subsides. The opposite points of the n.n.e. and e. 

 are, with us, dry quarters ; for, though we have occasionally 

 rain with the wind from all these points, yet it seldom lasts 

 long. Snow is almost invariably accompanied with a s.e. 

 wind. 



But little dependence, however, can be placed on observ- 

 ations on winds in this valley. And this remark will probably 

 apply to most places situated in mountainous districts, as the 

 eminences will most likely give a direction differing from its 

 original one to any current of the atmosphere. This may be 

 illustrated by the circumstance of our often meeting a current 

 of wind in a street, which current has been deflected from its 

 original direction by the intervention of the houses and other 

 buildings. When the wind is long in the e. or n.e., the wea- 

 ther is invariably dry to an extreme. In the spring of the 

 year, that is, in March, April, and May, we have, for some 

 weeks together, a dry unhealthy current setting in from the 

 N. e. During the prevalence of this wind the skin is dry and un- 

 comfortable, the insensible perspiration being carried off more 

 rapidly than usual ; and, in consequence, invalids and persons 

 inclined to pulmonary affections, suffer much from this English 

 sirocco, as it resembles the sirocco in some of its effects, but 

 differs from it in its being a cold wind. This is, perhaps, the 

 only wind we have in this country which can properly be 

 styled periodical, as it is so very markedly at this season of 

 the year, and at no other. The winds of the torrid zone 

 mostly blow in the same direction, or in opposite directions 

 in stated periods ; but this is not the case in the temperate 

 zones. Here the direction of the wind perpetually varies ; 

 and " as changeable as the wind " is proverbial in this 

 country. The evident irregularity of the winds has long per- 

 plexed philosophers to assign adequate causes for such vari- 

 ations ; and, perhaps, little more can be advanced to this day 

 than the very usual conclusion, that partial changes of tem- 

 perature are the chief general causes of all winds. 



While the barometer, in the torrid zone, seldom varies but 

 in a trifling degree, in the temperate zone it is not less fickle 

 than the wind. This indication of a loss of weight in the 

 atmosphere can arise only from a local diminution of elasticity 

 in this fluid. On this general ground, therefore, I conceive, 



