110 Remarks on Madeira, Climate of the Tropics, 



tellectual excitement is increased* by the ne plus ultra of ver- 

 tiginous motion at the equatorial parts in the circumrotation of 

 the oblate spheroidal body of the earth, and in the maximum 

 agitation of the projected waters, independently of winds from 

 the more immediate influence of the moon. 



On the 13th of the same month, a little before noon, we crossed 

 the tropic of Cancer in 25° 05' west longitude, where the mer- 

 cury was up to SO. From the time of our leaving this remark- 

 able parallel until our arrival at Rio de Janeiro, which happened 

 on the 17th of December, it proved to be between 78 and 91 ; 

 the latter having taken place the 24th of November at noon, in 

 lat. 6° 6' north, and long. 20° IS' west, the wind on the same 

 day having been variable and inclining to a calm. On the night 

 of the 2-4th, and particularly towards four in the morning, the 

 rain fell in torrents, attended with incessant flashes of vivid light- 

 ning, and with reiterated peals of the loudest thunder. It was 

 perhaps fortunate for us that our conductors had been placed. 



It is universally known from a repetition of observations, in 

 confirmation of which I beg leave to throw in my mite of testi- 

 mony, that in the intervals of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, 

 and for some time before and after, the trade-winds extend as 

 far as 30°, or thereabout, on each side of the equator, where they 

 are about N.E. and S.E., each; and that as the sun advances to- 

 wards either of the tropics, the trade-wind corresponding to the 

 same, relatively advances beyond its parallel of limitation, and 

 gradually assumes a more northern or southern direction, until 

 at last it is insensibly, or suddenly, or suddenly and violently lost 

 in those fluctuating and frequently ragingf winds preserving the 

 atmospheric equilibrium ; while, on the other hand,, the trade- 

 wind corresponding to the opposite parallel of limitation of greater 

 obliquity to the sun, recedes in a certain degree in the direction 

 of its proximate tropic, and assumes a more easterly direction. 

 The limits of the trade-winds, depending as they do on a variety 

 of causes that involve complicated though certain principles, are 

 extremely uncertain, more particularly the northern. The Co- 

 romandel, for instance, on her return, in June, had the N.E. 

 trade-wind with slight variations previous and subsequent to her 



* The excellent Mrs. Barbauld, however, judiciously as well as emphati- 

 cally remarks, that 



'' Souls are ripen'd in our northern sky." 



She doubtless implied the Gallic, and meant the Scottish as well as Eng- 

 lish sky. With regard to Ireland, I cannot but agree with Bisset, that it 

 or its sky is more frequently the mother than the nurse of genius. 



■]• In eight months out of twelve, strong winds, if not gales, prevail near 

 the Azores. 



arrival 



