54 



NATURAL AND CIVIL 



determined by observations of the heat which 

 prevails in deep wells and springs. The heat 

 of the atmosphere, is derived from the heat, 

 which takes place at the surface of the earths 

 In passing through the atmosphere, the solar 

 rays do not communicate any heat to the par- 

 ticles of air. The rays must first fall upon the 

 earth, be stopped, and collected, before they 

 produce their effect : And no greater heat can 

 ever be communicated to the atmosphere, than 

 was first com.municated to the surface of the 

 earth. Hence vv'e find the temperature of those 

 wells and springs, which are so far beneath the 

 surface of the earth, as not to be much affected 

 by the heat in summer, or by the cold in win- 

 ter, is the same as the mean temperature of that 

 climate ; or the mean heat of the atmosphere^ 

 in that place. The temperature of the v.-ater in 

 the deep wells in this place, is exactly the same 

 as the mean heat of the atmosphere. I have. 

 rei>eatedly examined the temperature of the wa- 

 ter in a well near the State House, by estima- 

 tion forty five feet in depth, and I have always 

 found the heat to be 43 and a half degrees, 

 without any variation in summer or winter.* 



* On a J 

 to Burlington 

 the temperatu 

 the heat decre 

 tie cultivated. 



Place. 



Newhaven, 



IVIiddletown 



Hartford, 



Stockhridge, 



Pittsfield, 



Tinmouth, 



Rutland 



iivrlington, 



ourney from the University at Newhaven tn Connecticut, 

 upon Onion river, I made the following obser\'ations upon 

 re of the wells ; which may serve to show in what manner 

 afes, as we advance towards the north, in a country but Ut- 



Prcsident's well, 

 Goodwin's Inn, 

 Bull's Inn, 

 Judge Edwards's, 

 Strong's Inn, 

 Judge Mattock's Bpring, 

 Buell's Inn, 

 Keye»' Inn, 



Depth by es- 

 timation, 

 30 Feet. 

 ^^ 

 40 



40 



45 



25 



Tempera- 

 ture. 



49' 



50 



49 



50 



47 



44 



43 



4i 



I-» 



I-S 



i-a 



\-% 



