8o THEORY of RAIN. 



fefted in this, that, by people who reafon from the immediate 

 obfervation alone, wind is attributed to the Ihower as an effect, 

 when it may more truly be confidered as (landing in the rela- 

 tion of a caufe. 



2. WHEN, in calm weather, rain begins, it is reafonable to 

 expect that this mould be followed by wind ; and, in like 

 manner, if in windy weather it begins to rain, it may be rea- 

 fonable to expert that the wind mould calm, after a certain pe- 

 riod, with the rain. Thefe undoubtedly are the general ap- 

 pearances j and thefe appearances are explained upon this prin- 

 ciple, that wind is the caufe of rain, and that, in the oppofition 

 of winds, a calm may be produced. 



3. DURING a calm and clear fky, mowers never happen ; 

 but, with fqualls of wind, fudden mowers appear. In calm 

 weather, before it rains, the heaven is all overclouded, and 

 the rain becomes general, equable, and not in fpots : But, when 

 attended with wind, the rain is unfteady ; one while, the fpot 

 around us is involved in the thickeft cloud and heavy rain j 

 another while, it is under the cleareft Iky ; and thefe alternate 

 operations in the atmofphere of thickening and clearing conti- 

 nue during the fqually weather. 



4. THESE facts are from my own obfervation ; and they ne- 

 cefTarily imply the mixture of hot and cold flreams of air for 

 the production of rain. But fometimes this operation is a thing 

 vifible in itfelf ; for when, by means of the motion of the 

 clouds, the atmofphere is perceived to be moved in oppofite di- 

 rections, here, it is evident, nothing is required befides the pro- 

 per conditions, in thofe mixing flreams, for the condenfation of 

 rain. Now, I have had it from experienced feamen, men of 

 great knowledge and obfervation, that, in our channel, they had 

 often occafion to remark this oppofition in the winds, or the 

 clouds going againfl the wind, as being a fure mark of heavy 

 rain to follow, 



5. THE 



