215 
- “Tn an interesting paper recently printed in the Philosophical 
Magazine, Colonel Sabine has suggested that the almost unparalleled 
mildness of the late winter may possibly be explained by an unusual 
extension’ of the Gulf-stream, bathing the shores of these Islands, and 
carrying with it a portion of the high temperature of the tropical 
region from which it flows. And the probability of this explanation has 
been augmented by the fact, that in the winter of 1821-2, a winter in 
many respects resembling the last, this great oceanic current, whose 
force is usually spent when it reaches the Azores, was actually observed in 
the neighbourhood of our shores. I have long speculated upon the proba- 
ble influence of the Gulf-stream upon the Irish winters generally, which 
appear to be much milder, in comparison with those of England, than can 
be well accounted for upon the principles of insular climate alone ; 
and I was glad to see, from Colonel Sabine’s paper, that my conjectures 
had some real foundation. Whether or not they will account for the 
fact, may, I think, be easily tested by a series of observations of the 
temperature of the sea ont the Eastern and Western coasts of the Island, 
and under the same parallel ; and I cannot but think that such a result, 
throwing so great a light upon the Climatology of this country, would, 
if established, well reward the labour bestowed in the investigation. 
“The Climate of Ireland, indeed, engaged a large share of the 
attention of the Academy during the life-time of Kirwan; and several 
papers. on the subject, by himself and others, are to be found in the early 
volumes of our Transactions. Should the Roy al Irish Academy, as I 
think it ought, take that subject again under its peculiar care, the 
knowledge of it might be extended and improved, by the observation of 
the times of the leafing and flowering of certain plants, after the plan 
suggested and carried out by M. Quetelet of Brussells, and now 
_ extensively followed in many parts of Europe. Such observations fur- 
nish us with a simple but admirable measure of the total effects of all 
the influential causes in their combination and union. 
~ Another subject of special inquiry, which might be fitly urged by 
this Society, is the History of the Tides on the coasts of Ireland. On 
this subject much has been already done; but probably much yet 
remains to be accomplished. Of the observations made in the sum- 
mer of 1842, by the non-commissioned officers of the Ordnance Survey, 
VOL. Ill. s 
