Mr. Redfield's Reply to Dr. Hare. 305 



as many vortices in its course as the aerial currents derived from 

 the same source ;" and he adds, " there are few vortices or whirl- 

 pools in the ocean," for reasons which he has chosen to assign. 

 [14-16.] 



Now the alleging that aqueous currents have an equal tendency, 

 with aerial ones, to run into " vortices," belongs to Dr. H., not 

 to me. In the ocean, we can but partially observe the upper sur- 

 face of superficial currents, moving apparently unobstructed on 

 the more quiescent waters beneath, and with the relative equality 

 of motion in the parts generally maintained. I see not how the 

 unimpeded movements of this denser and nearly non-elastic fluid 

 are to produce vortices equal in number or magnitude to those 

 which occur in the inferior layers of an elastic aerial current, 

 moving on or near the surface of the earth, over obstructions and 

 inequalities, and with other disturbing conditions almost innume- 

 rable. Of Dr. Hare's views of aqueous vortices it is unnecessary 

 to speak, but. there are mariners, if I remember their statements 

 aright, who can give him an account of the frequency of ocean 

 or Gulf Stream vortices, somewhat different from that which he 

 advances. Whenever a stream or current of water of moderate 

 depth moves over an unequal bottom, there is found no lack of 

 vortices, of various forms and dimensions, some of which exhibit 

 both upward and downward movements, often of considerable 

 velocity. * 



Dr. ,H. doubts if a whirlpool ever takes place without a cen- 

 tripetal force resulting from a vacuity. I see not how this doubt 

 can militate against my views of vortical action; but I have 

 myself seen many hundreds of such whirlpools or vortices, and 

 have occasionally watched their developments with much in- 

 terest. 



After commenting on certain arbitrary conditions '^ of opposing 

 or unequal forces," Dr. Hare desires to be informed how " une- 

 qual and opposing forces" are generated in the atmosphere ; pro- 

 ducing sometimes whirlwinds of unmeasured violence. [17-18.J 

 It may be readily seen, that aerial currents of unequal temperature 

 and velocity, superimposed one upon another, and all moving over 

 a surface of unequal character and with frequent elevations, and 

 subject also to the influence of adjacent currents, must often move 

 unequally, and in unconformable directions; thus unavoidably 

 running, to some extent, into vortices, eddies or circuits, of various 



Vol. XLii, No. 2.— Jan. -March, 1842. 39 



