176 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
earth, or could be known in any other. 
part of it, during this long period: for the 
fun muft have then continued ten days toge- 
ther within 5° degrees of the zenith of the 
poles, without any intermiffion of night, or a- 
batement from a leffer elevation, at which al- 
titude he never continues above 4o’ in the 
equinodtial days at the equator; a peculiarity 
as fingular as it would have been fatal to the 
polar regions. The prefent obliquity of the 
ecliptic gives evidently great relief to the e- 
quatoreal regions ; as by it the fun is carried 
to both fides of the zenith during the year, 
and is not permitted to dart conftantly per- 
pendicular rays upon them. It is to it like- 
ways the more northern countries owe their 
fummer and harveft; which weare told is o- 
ver with them in two months, or very little 
- more, while the fun’s almoft continued and 
inceffant action ripens fruits which the heat 
of our fun, much lefs theirs, on the roth of 
March, the equinoétial day, could never be 
able to accomplifh. Thus it ferves for dimi- 
nifhing their heat at the equator where it 
was ufeful to leffen it, and for increa- 
fing it towards the polar regions where it 
was proper to flrengthen it. But a regular 
and 
