On Winds. 31 1 



the view of procuring the beft poffible information on this 

 fubje^t, T applied to Leith, Aberdeen, and Peterhead, on the 

 eatt coaii ; and to Greenock, Dublin, Liverpool, and Briftol, 

 on the weft. 



In the appendix to this report I have inferlcd the queries 

 and anfwers; by which it mav be fecn that there is onlv one 

 opinion as to the dangers and inconveniencics of the paTc nt 

 navigation, and the advantages which may beexpec^ied from 

 the propofed inland navigation, if united with a naval ftalion 

 in the Morav Frith, or on the adjacent coalt of Scotland. 



This fanftion of experienced people, who are all deeply 

 interefled in commercial concerns, will, I truft, fatisfy your 

 lordlhips, that it has not been upon unfubftantial grounds 

 ttfTit I have ventured to recommend this great national ob- 



Mv eftimate of the expeufe of forming this navigation is 

 nearlv 350,000!., aiul the time required to complete it would 

 prob:ibly be about feven years : this divilion would require 

 an annual fupply of 50,000!. 



Upwards of thirty veflels have been wrecl<ed on the coaft 

 of Caitlmefs in the memory of Alexander Miller, of Staxigo. 



[To be continued.] 



LVI. On PVtmls. By Richard Kir wax, £/y. LL.D, 

 F.R.S. and F.R.I. A.- " • 



Of the Origin of the general Trade J-Vinds. 



jL hough the origin of the general trade winds appears 

 to me to have been fully eftablilhed by Dr. Halley, yet it 

 feems he bati explained himfelf too briefly, fitioe his explana- 

 tion has been miiuuderliood by many, and was thouglit 

 obicure even by d'Alcmbert t- 



To u'.iderftand it more peifeclly, let us fuppofe the fun for 

 the firll time in the meridian, and to communicate its heat 

 every in(iant fifteen degrees all around. It it were to remain 

 in this (iluation the furroundiiig air could have no other mo- 

 tion but upwards, for the lateral dilatations being equal, 

 would necelfarily check each other, but in the fecond, and 

 &II the fucceeding inliants, the fun moves weftvvards; there- 

 fore, of the originally equidiltant ealtern and wcliern points, 



• From his paptr tntiilcd " Of the Variations of the Atmofpherc 



f bur la Caufe dcs Vents, v. 



X 4 the 



