THE ATLANTIC STATES. 211 



ones. Mistaking the effects for the cause, snow is 

 considered as producing cold by the ignorant ; but it 

 has been proved that as much heat is given out dur- 

 ing the condensation of aqueous vapour, as would 

 raise twice its weight of glass to a red heat. Water, 

 in condensing from the aeriform state, will raise ten 

 times its bulk one hundred degrees. The quantum 

 of caloric which can raise ten bulks 100 degrees, 

 would raise one bulk 1000 degrees nearly (or to a 

 red heat visible in the day) and this is independent 

 of the caloric of fluidity, which would increase the 

 result. 



Further, the quantum of heat which would raise 

 water to 1000, would elevate an equal bulk of glass 

 to 2000. Hence we may infer, that from every snow, 

 there is received twice as much caloric as would be 

 yielded by a like stratum of red hot powdered glass. 



It is thus that the turbulent wave, which at one 

 moment rocks the mariner's sea-boat, on the border 

 of the torrid zone, transformed into a cloud and 

 borne away towards the arctic, soon after supports 

 the sledge or the snow-shoe of an Esquimaux or 

 Greenlander; successively cooling or warming the 

 surrounding media, by absorbing or giving out the 

 material cause of heat. 



