Chap. XL] OCEAN CURRENTS. 141 



ocean. It often forms a rapid current, running east- 

 wards nortli of the Virgin Islands. These appear 

 to be the normal currents within the district, though 

 varying their position and velocity with the seasons, 

 and, at intervals, to a greater or lesser extent 

 obliterated by the action of gales and other causes. 



Now, if the currents of the North Atlantic Ocean 

 are such as here described, then does not that stream 

 flowing from the equator through mid -ocean towards 

 tlie banks of Newfoundland explode the theory which 

 makes the winds the cause of the great oceanic cur- 

 rents ? Does it not explode any theory which makes 

 the winds the principal cause in determining the 

 course of the currents, — even supposing the principal 

 motive force to result from tlie inequalities in tem- 

 perature and other conditions between the polar and 

 equatorial regions ? A theoretical consideration of 

 the action of vis-inertise shows that it must tend to 

 cause such a current : and the investi2:ation of 

 recorded phenomena shows evidences of its actual 

 existence ; and therefore, as it runs its course and 

 forms its counter-currents in a manner accordins: with 

 the laws indicated by that theory, it must be admitted 

 as a proof of the paramount action of vis-inerti^e in the 

 ocean, at least until some other reasonable explanation 

 of its existence be given. ^ 



' Evidence of the existence of the current E h in the North 

 Pacific, the South Pacific, and the South Indian Oceans is more 

 clear than above shown for the Noi'th Atlantic. 



