WINDS, Sec. 



Mr. Williams. It is remarked, that our north-west 

 and west: winds always begin on the sea side : that is, 

 if several ships be in a line, that farthest out at sea 

 feels the wind first, and so in succession to that near- 

 est the 'Shore, which it reaches last. 



Sailors daily make the same observation on the 

 breezes along the shore, that of the day, called the 

 sea breeze, beginning always inland, on the summits 

 of the mountains and hills, which about noon become 

 the focus of the heat, so that tlie wind is fek there a 

 quarter or half an liour before it is on the shore, in 

 proportion to the distance between the two places: 

 and the land breeze beginning also on the same sum« 

 mits, because there refrigeration first cakes place, 

 and the air by its weight flows down the mountains 

 toward the sea like a current of waiter.* 



One curious fact respecting the i^.orth-west wind 

 still remains to be mentioned, it is, that in the Unit- 

 ed States the mortar and plaster of walk exp(>sed to 

 its direct action are always harder, and nn re ail!!-' 

 cult to demohsh, than those vnth any other exposure, 

 no doubt on account of its extreme dryness. In the 

 forests, too, the bark of the trees is ihicktr and h- ..d- 

 er on the side exposed to it, than on the other and 

 this observation is one, among i>t;her.s, by whxh the 

 savages are guided ir:; theh' travels uuough the woods, 

 even in the foggy weather. 



* These descents of the cold air of the middle or upper region are 

 attestea by Belknap, who me.ii:ioiis pi.ice i.. N. w Iiainpsnirc where 

 the wind seems always to i^.. 11 froiu .bov. ilL- tli- ^vatc c/ ... m'lil^ 

 there is a'soarein.-iii. :.ble iiutaiiCe i:v i ia..co> on the r'ouiiip.iiis of 

 Forez, which separate the basin of tlie Rhone tfom that of the Loire, 



