TffEO R T of RAIN. 53 



occafion of the event. Here, again, the fubjecl: to be dif- 

 cufTed will be the apparent exception from the generality of 

 rain. 



4////P, THE proportional quantities of rain falling in the dif- 

 ferent fituations of the earth may be made an object: of our at- 

 tention, in order to illuftrate the theory, as well as to explain 

 appearances. Here a comparative eflimate will be made of cli- 

 mates in relation to rain. 



5//y, and la/l/y, HAVING thus confidered the particular ap- 

 pearances of the globe in general, fo far as our imperfect know- 

 ledge of them reaches, we may next examine a particular place, 

 fuch as is bed known, in relation to the appearances in general 

 of rain. The meteorological obfervations of our own climate 

 will here be the proper object of examination, with a view to 

 confirm the theory, and to form general rules, which may be 

 occafionally applied, either to any particular meteorological re- 

 gifter, or to every obfervation of change in our weather, that 

 is, fuch as {hall be attended with circumflances proper for judg- 

 ing of the principle. 



I. Of the Generality of Rain. 



LET us fuppofe the furface of this earth wholly covered 

 with water, and that the fun were ftationary, being always ver- 

 tical in one place, then, from the laws of heat and rarefaction, 

 there would be formed a circulation in the atmofphere, flowing 

 from the dark and cold hemifphere to the heated and illumi- 

 nated place, and returning above, from the heated place, in 

 all directions, towards the place of greateft cold. 



As there is, for the atmofphere of this earth, a conftant cool- 

 ing caufe, this fluid body could only arrive at a certain degree 

 of heat ; and this woxild be regularly decreasing from the cen- 

 tre of illumination to the oppofite point of the globe, moft di- 

 ftant from the light and heat. Between thofe two regions of 

 extreme heat and cold, there would, in every place, be found 



two- 



