WINDS, Sec. 



91 



over a great extent of sea, the surface of which, 

 reaching to the poie, is uninterruptedly saturating 

 it with cold and moisture. Accordingly it displays 

 these two qualities in an eminent degree on all the 

 Atlantic Coast; before it arrives you may foretel its 

 coming within doors by the deliquescent state of 

 your salt, soap, sugar, &c. From Cape Cod to the 

 banks of Nevffoundland the north-east wind drives 

 on the coast cold and benumbing fogs. 



The qualities of the north-east wind on the Atlan- 

 lantic Coast naturally diminish in intensity as we 

 proceed southward, but they are perceptible even 

 ill Georgia ; and from Quebec to Savannah the name 

 of this wind excites the ideas of cold, wet, and disa- 

 ^rreeable. 



But on crossing to the west of the Alleghanies 

 this language is changed; there, to the great asto- 

 lushment of those who emigrate from Connecticut 

 and Massachusetts, the north-east and east winds 

 are rather dry than wet, rather light and pleasing 

 than heavy and disagreeable. The reason is, be- 

 cause there, as in Norway, these currents of air 

 ^arrive after having passed a rampart of mountains, 

 where in a lofty region they deposit the vapours, 

 with which they were loaded. 



The frequency of north-east winds on the Atlantic 

 coast may be ascribed in part to the direction of the 

 iihore and the mountains of that country, which fa- 

 ours the course of the aerial current. Sometimes 

 . Liis wind itself gives evident proofs of it in itscourse, 

 ^i^y covering the sea-shore with snow, which does not 

 ^ xtend ten miles from it. This occurred at Nor- 

 i >l.k on the 14th of February 1798, v/hen in a single 



