672 JAMAICA. 



pate any putrid exhalations, fo that they cannot annoy the inhabitants of 



thofc parts. 



Thus has the Ahnighty not left this portion of the globe deftitute of 

 neceiTary prefervatives againft the inclemency of the climate ; fo that they, 

 who a6l here agreeably to the didates of right reafon, may enjoy every 

 pratification of health and felicity in a reafonable extent, without b^ing 

 afflicted with more than their jull proportion of natural evils, in com- 

 mon with the reft of mankind. 



And there is no doubt, but that the fame Wife Being, who contrived 

 this couftant agitation of the fea, to preferve its vaft colleftion of waters 

 in fufficient purity, has likewife in the ^Equatorial climates, defigned the 

 extraordinary ebb and flood of the atmolphere, and its vafi; elevation 

 above the air of the Poles, with the like good view of fecuring the frefh- 

 nefs and brifl-L temper of this fluid lo cffential to life, and keeping it, by a 

 perpetual circulation, from deadnefs and ftinking. 



The variations of the magnetic needle were obferved by Dr. Halley, to 

 be very fmall near the ^Equator. I have feen no account of them for this 

 ifland, that can be relied upon ; but, if obfervations fliould be faithfully 

 made here, they would probably confirm his opinion. 



According to Alountaine's chart, conftruded in the year 1700, from 

 Dr. Halley 's tables, the variation at Port Royal then was about 6° 30' E. 

 Some late obfervations make it about 6° o' E. But, as in moft parts of 

 the world it is found to be continually either increafing or decreafing, lb 

 we may reafonably conclude, that it may have altered in both refpedts 

 very much during this long interval that has pafled fince the conftrudtion 

 of the chart. For want of a regifler of annual obfervations given to the 

 public, we have no data whereby to determine either what the whole va- 

 riation amounts to in a feries of years, or whether it is at this time on 

 the increafe or decreafe. A corred obfervation might be made here, by 

 two ftations, one at Port Royal point, the other at Long Bay, or Green 

 Ifland harbour at the Weft end, in the month of December, at which 

 time the fun's amplitude, at rifing and fetting, may be taken to a degree 

 of great exaftneG, from his having then the greateft Southern declina- 

 tion, and not being intercepted by the mountains, from oblervers placed 

 at thofe convenient ftations. 



In 1682, the variation at Martinique (lat. 14° 30' N.) was found to 

 be 4 deg. 10 m. Eaft : in the year 1704, it was 6 deg. 10 m. E. which 



makes 



