eo 
me Mr. Redfield’s Reply to Dr. Ehabe: : 303 
oe 4, 
‘ 
__. Now to all this, I answer: 1. That, to my apprehension, the 
essential features of the trade winds can be best explained with- 
out assigning the agency of temperature as the chief moving 
2. It is an error to say, that I reject the influence of heat. 
3. I consider the influences of momentum, centrifugal force, and . 
centripetal action, as being comprised in the laws of gravitation. 
4. It is true that I do not consider “ electricity” as a general 
cause of atmospheric currents; for the reason, that so far as I 
know, this has never been shown. 5. That the only effect of 
gravitation, without calorific or electrical reaction, would be to 
‘produce ‘a state of inert quiescence,” in the atmosphere of a 
moving and rotative planet like our own, is to me inconceivable. 
6. I have never considered nor asserted “momentum” to be “the 
antagonist of gravitation.”’ In the paragraph which is quoted by 
Dr. Hare, I had suggested the courses of great storms as indica- 
ting the law of circulation in our atmosphere, and which I deem- 
ed to be founded mainly on the laws of gravitation. By some 
mistake, he has given the phrase “causes of great storms” ing 
stead oé courses ; and proceeding on this error, he calls it a sum- 
ming up of the “causes” of atmospheric currents: although he 
alleges at the same time, that I here admit but one cause. 
it is next asked, “If the minuteness of the altitude of the 
atmosphere in comparison with its horizontal extent, be an objec- 
tion to any available currents being induced by calorific rarefac- 
tion,” as he states I have alleged, se wherefore should not momen- 
tum or any other cause di: the influence 
of gravity, be on the same account reqealls inefficient?” To this 
I answer:—1. Momentum, and the other modifications of the 
gravitating power, are of far greater magnitude and force than the 
influence of the mere difference of temperature in the several 
geographical or climatorial zones. 2. The main tendency or re- 
sult of this greater force is to produce horizontal, not vertical 
motion. 3. The words which I have italicised, show only the 
misapprehension corrected above, and which appears to run 
through the strictures which Iam noticing. By “available cur- 
rents,” as above quoted, I here understand the great currents of 
the atmosphere, constituting the trade winds, &c. 
In succeeding paragraphs [10-12] Dr. H. criticises the terms 
by which I have endeavored to point out, that a whirling or ro- 
tative movement is the only known cause of a violent and desiruc- 
