70 THEORY of RAIN. 



this kind that occurs is a greater degree of heat; which may 

 be now considered. 



THERE is no doubt that there would appear to be lefs heat 

 in the climate of North America than in that of Europe, com- 

 paring equal latitudes j but, unlefs this greater cold arifes from 

 fome other caufe than that which produces the greater quantity 

 of condenfed vapour, this argument from the temperatures, 

 in relation to heat and cold, would be no more conclusive than 

 that from the drynefs of the climate. Now, it muft be evident, 

 that, upon a continent where there is a greater quantity of con- 

 denfed vapour, there muft be more clouds to intercept the heat 

 of the fun, or its influence in heating the furface of the earth ; 

 and alfo, there muft be more of that heat loft, in relation to 

 our fenfation, by being employed in evaporating the greater 

 humidity from the furface of that earth. The proper conclu- 

 fion is, that the greater cold, in the climate of North America, 

 compared with the climate of the Cafpian, arifes from the fame 

 caufe which produces the greater quantity of rain; at leaft, 

 that this is the cafe in a great meafure, and that we have no 

 rule for valuing the effecT: of any other caufe. 



HAVING thus found, that a greater quantity of rain falls 

 upon a given furface in the fmaller continent of the new 

 world, than upon a fimilar one in the greater continent of the 

 old, the theory is fo far confirmed; as, according to this theo- 

 ry, there mould be found more favourable circumftances, or 

 conditions, for the condenfation of aqueous vapour in the at- 

 mofphere, and the production of rain in the fmaller than in 

 the greater continent. 



5. The Theory applied to Meteorological Obfervations. 



HAVING compared the general appearances of the globe, in 



relation to rain, with the theory, and having found that perfect 



correfpondency betwixt them, which is neceflarily required in 



phyfical truths, we may now confider the general appearances 



of 



