tive force in winds or tempests ; as the last clause of the paragraph 
quoted by him should read. There is little probability that my 
meaning has been misunderstood by general readers; and it ap- 
pears afterwards to have been divined by Dr. Hare himself. 
After a short comment on the functions of gravitation, Dr. H. 
inquires—‘ But if neither gravity, nor calorific expansion, nor 
electricity, be the cause of winds, by what are they produced ?”’ 
I answer, 1. According to my apprehension, the gravity which 
induces a nearly equal ‘distribution of the atmosphere over the 
surface of the globe,” may and does, in its modified influences, 
constitute the main basis of winds and storms. 2. That calorific 
expansion is a “cause of winds” is universally admitted ; but, 
that it is the chief cause I cannot perceive. 3. If “electricity” 
be the cause of winds, it seems incumbent on Dr. H. to show it. 
~ For my own part, having never attempted to write out or es- 
tablish a theory of the winds, in the common acceptation of the 
term, nor yet, of the origin or first cause of storms, I have no 
gccasion to go into these inquiries any further than relates to my 
present purpose. It is true that I entertain some definite views 
on these points, which have resulted from observation and in- 
quiry ; but the choice of time and occasion for their more full 
development, and also of the evidence on which they rest, belongs 
to myself rather than to. another. I do not intend being diverted 
from my ordinary business, or from the results of direct observa- 
tions in storms, by engaging in a controversial discussion of those 
general views of the alleged cause of winds, and of the physico- 
mechanics of the atmosphere, which now prevail ;. and which are 
held by men of the highest attainments in physical science. And 
in relation to storms, I have long held the proper inqniry to be, 
What are storms? and not, How are storms produced? as has 
been well expressed by another. It is only when the former of 
ese inquiries is solved, that we can enter advantageously upon 
the latter. 
T have stated, incidentally, that all fluid matter has a tendency 
to run into whirls or circuits, when subject to the influence of 
unequal or opposing forces, &c. Dr. Hare says that, “if this were 
true, evidently whirlpools or vortices of some kind, ought to be 
as frequent in the ocean, as agreeably to my observation, they are 
found to be in the atmosphere.” That “the aqueous Gulf Stream, 
resulting from the impetus of the trade winds, ought to produce 
ee, — S, - 
