WINDS. 



represent them, and that they are wholly independent of, and sufficient 

 to account for and explain, the phenomena which exist, without having 

 recourse to rotative causes — and are more in accordance with science, 

 and in conformity with the simplicity, the beauty, the order of creation 

 established by an All-wise Being, who directs and controls the winds, 

 brings the seasons round in their due order, replenishes the earth with 

 refreshing showers, and supplies the wants and conduces to the hap- 

 piness of all His creatures. 



Now, in order to make my views more clearly understood, they 

 may be briefly expressed in the following axioms : 



1st. That the atmosphere, when of equal temperature and dryness, 

 will remain at rest, or a calm exist. 



2d. That if the atmosphere is disturbed by any change of tempera- 

 ture, the denser and colder portion seeks the warmer, from every direc- 

 tion, to restore the equilibrium, in the most direct lines it can follow. 



3d. That heated air, unless confined and forced, never tends towards 

 a denser and cooler area ; but when free, it always rises or falls to the 

 area, where its gravity and temperature will restore the equilibrium. 



4th. That currents of air may pass in opposite directions without 

 mixing, provided they lie according to their specific gravities; but 

 they can never pass through or cross each other without commingling. 



5th. That currents of air are influenced and disturbed by electricity. 



On this basis we think that all the phenomena of the Winds may 

 be ascertained and explained. 



Great stress, in the Theory of the Winds, has been ac'tributed to the 

 rotary motion of the earth, in producing the direction as well as the 

 apparent velocity of the Trade Winds. 



I cannot believe that this cause has an influence on any surface winds. 



The origin of wind is at the area or line of greatest heat : in all 

 cases, the flow of wind or currents of air, is retrograde from the point 

 to which they blow, and towards the area of heat as it recedes. On 

 those sides where the greatest density exists, the flow towards the 

 heated area has more duration and greater velocity. 



The land and sea breezes furnish a beautiful illustration of this. 

 They begin at the shore, where the line of greatest heat is — thence 

 they flow towards it from the sea, while the heated line recedes to 

 the interior. When the limit of heat is reached, the breezes decline, 

 and the equilibrium being restored, calm is produced. When the 



< 



