^ CLIMATE IN NORTH AMERICA. 



pher, in a glafs regulated according to Farenheit's fcale. It has been obferved by 



Mr. Hutchhjs, that on the 6th oi July.^ iJfS, the quickfilver rofe as high as 99; 



and once in the fame month, for an hour or two, even to 103. In refpedl to cold, 



the quickfilver begins to congeal w^hen it has funk to about 40 below the cypher ; 



but the fpirit thermometer continues to ftiew a degree of cold fo low as 46. The 



former remarks were made by Mr. ^Vales, z.t Prince of Wales' % fort, in lat. 58° 55'', 



correfpondent to the fouthern part of the Orknies. Thofe iflands lie furrounded by 



the fea -.HudforCs bay has to the weft a traft of continent extending in the narroweft 



part above thirty- five degrees, covered the whole winter with fnow ; and to the 



north a ftill more rigorous climate, a fea perpetually infefted with ice : fo let the 



wind blow either from the weft or from the north, it is fure to bring with it the 



moft fevere eff"e(Sls. From the province of New York to this in queftion, the ground 



remains covered with fnow the greateft part of the winter ; later or earlier, as the 



country approaches or recedes from the fouth. The predominant winds are fro nv 



the weft, and thofe blow above three quarters of the year : but the north or north- 



, eafterly winds are obferved to be the vehicles of fnow. The north-wefterly bring 



the fevereft cold. 



The middle provinces are remarkable for the unfteadinefs of the weather, or 

 the quick tranfitions from heat to cold. Snow falls in quantities in Virginia, but 

 does not lie above a day or two ; yet even after a mild, or indeed, a warm day, 

 the river Potowmoc has been frozen over in one night, ftrong enough to be pafled, 

 and that in places where it was two miles broad ; and James river, where it has 

 been three miles broad. Thefe alterations are owing to the above-cited caufe, the 

 fudden arrival of the chilling winds of the north-weft. 



The provinces of South Carolina and Florida are fubje(3: to vaft heats and fu- 

 rious whirlwinds, hurricanes, burfts of thunder, and fatal lightnings. Mr. Henry 

 Ellis found the thermometer in Georgia at 105, in one of the fummer months : a 

 heat fo far fuperior to that of the human body, even in that climate, that Mr- 

 Ellis could not raife it above 97 by the application of it to his body. On Decem- 

 ber loth it was at 86, yet the next day fell as low as 38. Well might Mr. Ellis 

 remark the deleterious effedt of thefe extraordinary changes on the human 

 frame *. 



The united fury of the thunder, lightning, and whirlwind, cannot be better 

 illuftrated than by the defcriptive inftance which happened in South Carolina, with 

 which Dr. Garden, with his ufual liberality, favored me ; and of which he was 

 an eye witnefs. 



- * Phil. Tranf. 1. 754-, 755- 



G ' Before 



4> 



