43 2 ^" i^t equable Tempemtt/ft of the Iri/Jj Climate, 



From thefe experiments it -appears, that the medium temperature of the kingdom of 

 Ireland, from its fouthern to its northern extremity, nearly coincides with the (laiidard 

 alfigned to correfponding degrees of latitude in Mr. Kirwan's ingenious tables*. 



It is further difcoverable, that the general warmth of our ifliuul is in no ref^^eft inferior 

 to that of other countries in its parallel : from whence we are naturally led to conclude, 

 that the annual quantity of heat received here is not lefs in our day than it was in former 

 ages. 



If thefe things are fo, it may be denietl that there is any fubftantial foundation for the 

 frequent complaint of change in our feafons. The ocean may be agitated by ftormsi 

 fands be drifted along our coafts, and trees blafted in mountainous and expofed fituations;, 

 but why fliould the farmer lament the diminiflied ardour and fliortened period of his 

 fummers, as if winter pofTcfred more than its natural portion of the revolving year .' 

 Whence fliould atife the gardener's complaints, that his peaches," however fheltered from 

 ftornis, rarely now arrive at maturity ; and tl.at his IV'ay-duke cherries, even in the moft 

 favoured afpe£ls, no longer merit that diftinguifhed title ? 



May I be permitted to aflume, as true, the h£l which it has hitherto been the purpofa 

 of this paper to demonftrate, and in fupport of which the trees, the fands, and the tidea 

 of our iiland feem to bear conftant and unequivocal teftimony ; namely that, of late 

 years, the weftern winds have blown with increafed violence ? From that fingle principle 

 an anfwer may be deduced to all thefe interelting queRions. 



It is a matter well known, and eafily to be exphuncd, that the furface of the ocean va- 

 ries, lefs from the mean annual temperature of its latitude, than land in the fame parallel f: 

 that is, the furface of the fea is colder in fummer, and warmer in winter, than the fur- 

 face of the ground in that latitude. 



If then the prevalent winds of any country blovc over an ocean fituated in its parallel, 

 that country will relatively be denominated temperate •, it will be free from all extremes j. 

 the heats of fummer and the colds of winter will be checked by fea breezes of a contrary 

 property; and the land, influenced by the neighbouring element, mufl:, more or lefs, par*- 

 take in its equability of temperature. 



Such is the cafe in almod all the iflands of the world : and fuch from immemorial ages 

 has been the peculiar character of Ireland. Hither come the weftern winds, modified by 

 the temperature of the broad Atlantic ocean, which they traverfe in their career : hither 

 fly the clouds, teeming with moifture colle£led in a courfe of three thoufand miles along 

 its furface ; and here uniformity of temperature, and redundant humidity, have always 

 been marked as the diftinguiflied charafter of our foil. 



Since then the trees, the fands, and' the tid^-demonftrate that thefe winds have, of 

 late years, blown with unufual violence ; fince they bear teftimony that a. large quantity 

 of air thus dire£led, thus tempered, and furcharged, has pafled over our lands ; it plainly 

 follows that the climate muft have felt the change ; that it muft have experienced colder 

 fummers and milder winters than heretofore, approaching towards that equabihty of heat 

 and redundance of moifture which the farmer and the gardener at prefent fo heavily la- 

 ment. 



JJut it is not from increafe of quantity alone that thefe wiods Iiave produced their effefl:*. 



• See Kirwaa's Efiimatt of Temperatures. I Ibid. 



They 



