180 On the Gulf Stream and Currents of the Sea. 



The system of observations proposed will be of Jiigh interest 

 also to the meteorologist, whose science at this time is attracting 

 so much attention. The fogs of Newfomidland which so much 

 endanger navigation in winter, doubtless owe their existence to 

 the presence in that cold sea, of immense volumes of warm water 

 brought by the Gulf Stream. 



Sir Philip Brooke found the air on each side of it at the freez- 

 ing point, while that of its waters was 80°. " The heavy warm 

 damp air over the current produced great irregularities in his chro- 

 nometers." The excess of heat daily brought into such a region 

 by the waters of the Gulf Stream, if suddenly stricken from them, 

 would be sufficient to make the whole column of superincum- 

 bent atmosphere ten times hotter than melted iron. 



With such an element of atmospherical disturbance in its bo- 

 som, we might expect storms of the most violent kind to accom- 

 pany it in its course. 



Accordingly, the most terrific that rage on the ocean, have been 

 known to spend their fury in and near its borders. 



Connected with, and dependent upon, this great artery of the 

 ocean, are numerous veins in the shape of eddies, counter-currents, 

 drifts, and sets, all of the highest importance to navigation, and to 

 the neglect of which many frightful disasters among sea-faring 

 people are to be ascribed. 



In 1804, his Majesty's ship Apollo left the Cove of Cork with 

 sixty-nine sail, under convoy for the West Indies. They en- 

 countered a current in the tail of the Gulf Stream, of which they 

 were not aware, and on the seventh day out, the Apollo, with 

 forty of the convoy, were wrecked on the coast of Portugal. 



In 1825, eight hundred sail of British shipping were lost at sea. 

 And, upon an average, one American and two British ships are 

 wrecked every day the year round. Most of these losses are 

 owing to the effects of unknown currents. I doubt whether a 

 subject more important in its bearings has ever before been pre- 

 sented to the Institute. 



The field of investigation is most magnificent. When rightly 

 understood, this system of marine currents and ocean circulation 

 cannot fail to open to us a beautiful and harmonious arrange- 

 ment. Though T have only glanced at some of the currents 

 in the Atlantic, there are others, both there and in the Pacific, 

 not less interesting, and scarcely less important than these. 



