HISTORY OF VERMONT, 59 



Th e winds in North America receive their 

 general direction from the situation of the sea 

 coasts, mountains, and rivers. These are very- 

 much from the southwest to northeast. The 

 most prevalent of our winds, are .either parallel 

 with, or perpendicular to this course ; or rather, 

 they are from the northeast, east, southwest and 

 northv/est. More than one half of the winds 

 which blow during the year, are from that quar- 

 ter which lies between the southwest and north- 

 west. The west and northwest winds are dry, 

 cooling and elastic* These winds always begin 

 at the sea coast. Those from the south and 

 soutwest are more warm, moist and relaxing. 

 The easterly winds seldom extend so far from 

 the sea coast as Vermont. They not only lose 

 their distressing chill and dampness, as they ad- 

 vance into the country, but they seldom reach 

 so far as Connecticut river ; and they are un- 

 known on the west side of the green mountains* 

 The winds seem to observe something like a 

 I'egular course, during the day. At sunrise 

 there generally seems to be a calm ; about 

 seven or eight o'clock, the wind begins to rise, 

 which at nine or ten becomes a fresh breeze ; 

 and increases until one or two o'clock : From 

 about three or four, the wind decreases until 

 eight or nine in the evening ; when it again be- 

 comes calm, and continues thus through the 

 night. This general routine seems to be ob- 

 served more generally in the latter part of win- 

 ter, and in the spring, than at other times of the 

 year. But there are times in those seasons of 

 the year, when the wind rages without much 

 intermission for two or three days together. 



